SA man breaks his own barrel-s

Photo: YouTube/
Steve Adams

SA man breaks his own barrel-sitting record in Dullstroom

Vernon Kruger has been in a barrel on the top of a pole for more than two months breaking the record he set in 1997.

SA man breaks his own barrel-s

Photo: YouTube/
Steve Adams

In 1997, Vernon Kruger set a new Guinness World record for the longest duration ‘pole sitting in a barrel’. But after no-one surpassed his 67 day record, he set out to beat it himself and on Monday 20 January 2020, the 52-year-old did exactly that.

According to the BBC, Vernon broke his own record after sitting in his barrel for two months that was set 25 meters in the air.

Image may contain: outdoor
Photo: Facebook/ Up The Pole In Dullstroom

In the barrel

He told Sky News: “I’ve forgotten why I am up here. I had some good reasons, but I’ve forgotten them since I have been here. I have broken my own record now – 22 years ago I broke it, it was a British record, of 54 days. I took it to 67 [days] and this time I’m going to try to push it to about 80.”

He said it was “not too lonely” adding that: “This time we have social media so I feel more connected.” He also does exercises every morning with a trainer below on the ground.

“I can just curl up in a foetal position so I do wake up with aches and pains.”

He added: “It’s amazing how the body adapts. The first week was the worst but after that I got into a routine.”

“I actually sleep these days. Not like I would in a bed but I do get a few hours of sleep at night.

“The barrel is small but one of the requirements is that it has to be a certain size so I am limited in the space.”

Answering the question on everyone’s mind about how he manages bodily functions, he said:

“Everything comes up by bucket and I have ground crew below. Restaurants are providing me with food so I have different food. It all comes up by bucket and down again, my bedding too.”

He said it is quite high and he had to go up by helicopter.

Image may contain: cloud, sky, tree, plant and outdoor
Photo: Facebook/ Up The Pole In Dullstroom

A major challenge

Asked what advice he would pass on to anyone thinking of taking on his record, he said: “I think people must be mentally prepared. previous time I was much younger and it was more of a physical problem but this time it’s more of a mental challenge.

“Once you are up you can’t go down and you are not allowed visitors.”