Facing death up close: A man buries himself alive in a unique experience

In a daring and unusual endeavor, 63-year-old Víctor Amela, originally from Spain, orchestrated his own mock funeral and allowed himself to be buried alive for an entire hour while his loved ones delivered heartfelt eulogies beside his grave.

His motivation behind this extraordinary act was to gain an intimate understanding of death while still among the living.

Speaking to Spanish media, Amela described the experience as both challenging and awe-inspiring. Initially, he felt panic setting in, but as the minutes ticked away, he gradually found solace and even began to relish the experience. He recounted the moment when the funeral attendees covered him with dirt, enveloping him in darkness.

"When they covered me and I was left in the dark, I could hear the shovelfuls of dirt landing on the coffin," Amela recalled. "For a second, I was gripped by panic. But it came and went away. I then started to relax and enjoy it. I wished I could stay there longer."

The experience of burying yourself alive in a mock funeral

The touching eulogies delivered by his loved ones resonated deeply with Amela. Reflecting on the event, he shared that he had undertaken this unconventional stunt a year earlier, marking his 62nd birthday. His fascination with death had started at the young age of 15. He advised against attempting such an act at home, admitting that he had regretted it afterward.

Amela emphasized that attending his own funeral had a profound impact on his life. It helped him shed his fears of an untimely demise, strengthened his relationships, and encouraged others to contemplate their own mortality. "The experience of my own funeral helped me to stop thinking about the possibility of dying at 65, to strengthen the bonds of friendship with people who love me and who I love," he said, according to the Daily Star.