Reports reaching 9News Nigeria, on Wednesday revealed that the Thai couple, Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat, who clinched the world record for the longest kiss of 58 hours and 35 minutes in February 2013, have revealed they are no longer together.
Speaking during a podcast, Ekkachai talked about the end of their marriage, expressing pride in their record-breaking achievement.
He said they initially didn’t sign up for the 2011 competition, which was scheduled for a few days before Valentine’s Day, as Laksana had just recovered from a long illness but were persuaded by the promised prize of 50,000 Thai Baht, which is approximately £1,200 at the time, and a diamond ring.
He said, “There were a lot of people there. There were around 14 couples competing and a lot of media hovering around them. I felt like I was going to faint, some of the spectators handed me an inhaler to support me along the way.”
He also recalled being “stunned” by the rules for the world record attempt, which demanded that “lips must be touching at all times, the couple must be awake at all times, contestants must stand during the attempt and cannot be propped together by any aids, and that adult nappies, diapers or incontinence pads were banned.”
Also, while couples were allowed to use the toilet, they were “required to remain kissing while doing so.”
He added that a lot of people couldn’t bear it and collapsed, and by the time 20 hours had passed, he was exhausted and could barely stand, but his wife said “we need to keep fighting” so he carried on.
In the final stages, when only two couples remained, Ekkachai noticed their competition had fallen asleep. “When their lips parted,” he knew they had won.
