In a bizarre yet heartwarming attempt to entertain his children, a devoted father from Manchester has unexpectedly landed himself in the spotlight after successfully inserting 81 matchsticks into his nose, aiming to break a quirky world record.
The dad, 38-year-old Liam Carter, said the unusual challenge began during a family game night when his two young children dared him to try and beat a record they had seen online. What started as playful fun quickly turned into a serious attempt as the family gathered matchboxes and began counting.
Under the careful supervision of his amused wife—who filmed the entire attempt—Carter managed to insert 81 wooden matches across both nostrils, surpassing the previously reported number documented in novelty record categories.
“I just wanted to make the kids laugh,” Carter said afterward. “Before I knew it, they were cheering like I was in the Olympics.”
Although the stunt was successful, it didn’t come without discomfort. Carter admitted his eyes were watering uncontrollably, and he sneezed for nearly ten minutes after removing the matches.
Medical experts, unsurprisingly, do not recommend attempting similar record-breaking stunts, noting risks such as nasal injury, infection, and breathing complications.
Video of the moment has already gone viral on social media, with thousands praising Carter’s dedication to fatherhood—and many others joking that he deserves a medal for commitment.
Guinness World Records has yet to officially verify the attempt, but Carter says he isn’t concerned.
“The kids think I’m a superhero now,” he joked. “That’s all the record I need.”
