Longest Held Breath

Budimir Sobat's 24 minute 37 second breath-hold record/Human Records & Feats

On March 27, 2021, Croatian freediver Budimir Sobat held his breath for 24 minutes and 37 seconds (1,477 seconds), setting the Guinness World Record for static apnea. The technique involves hyperventilating with pure oxygen beforehand to supersaturate the blood, then lying face-down in a pool while the body slowly consumes its oxygen reserves. Heart rate drops to as low as 20 beats per minute as the mammalian dive reflex kicks in. The urge to breathe becomes excruciating after about 5 minutes for most people, meaning Sobat endured nearly 20 minutes of what his brain was screaming was certain death.