On Tuesday, Nigerian man Dauda Abdulfata halted his 200-hour ironing marathon after completing 142 hours.
Dauda had aimed to break the Guinness World Record for the longest ironing marathon, initiating the attempt last Wednesday in Ganaja Village, Lokoja, Kogi State, as reported by SaharaReporters.
A video from his team captured Dauda explaining that he decided to stop the marathon due to concerns about its impact on his health.
He said, “I appreciate your efforts, your encouragement and your support to see this dream come true. I’m a Kogite, a Nigeria who has broken the 2015 record of 100 hours ironing marathon and already on the set to set mine to 200 and above as promised, but due to report from my health and my medical personnel.
“I deem it fit to let you know, But I know you. You don’t want to hear this. You want to see me go through the 200 hours But health is wealth, and health before anything. My medical team has advised me to put a halt to this and at this juncture. I see you celebrate with me.”
Dauda Abdulfata’s objective is to surpass the current record of 100 hours, held by Gareth Sander of the United Kingdom. Gareth Sanders, a 28-year-old cleaning company manager, achieved the world record for non-stop ironing in 2015 by ironing approximately 2,000 items continuously for nearly 100 hours.
SaharaReporters obtained an acceptance email from the Guinness World Record allowing Dauda to commence his attempt to break the existing record. A review from the GWR will be necessary to determine if he successfully secures the new world record.
The pursuit of Guinness World Records has gained significant attention in Nigeria and other African countries, notably when Nigerian chef Hilda Effiong Bassey, also known as Hilda Baci, broke the record for the longest cooking marathon (individual) with a time of 93 hours and 11 minutes.