A man has kissed his wife goodbye before being buried alive inside a coffin in the grounds of a church in Belfast.
John Edwards, from Dublin, Ireland, will stay underground for three days in his tiny home, which has electricity, WiFi and a duvet and pillow.
Mr Edwards, who is in his 60s, hopes his stunt will raise awareness for Walking Free, his charity which helps self-harmers, drug addicts, alcoholics, suicidal people and those with eating disorders to start their lives afresh.
His wife of 20 years, Trish, posed for the cameras with a mock tombstone while he was buried on the site earlier today.
As a former drug addict and alcoholic himself, Mr Edwards knows the kinds of difficulties faced by recovering substance abusers.
During his two decades as an addict Mr Edwards had cancer twice, a liver transplant and Hepatitis C, experienced homelessness, and at times felt suicidal.
He became clean and sober 23 years ago – the same year as founding the charity.
While his friends and family watch from above ground this week, Mr Edwards hopes to offer his advice to people across the world.
‘I know this is a radical move but people are continually contacting me who are either suicidal or who know friends or family who are,’ he told Belfast Live.
He added: ‘My plan is to speak to them from the grave before they get there and show them hope.’
The devoted Christian, who says he overdosed around 20 times during his years as an addict, is using the hashtag #GraveChat in the hope that he can use social media to spread the word about his venture.
He has already broadcast several live video streams on his Facebook page from his morbid home.
He was buried on Wednesday and will spend three days underground.
Mr Edwards has completed the challenge once before in Halifax, West Yorkshire, in July 2016.
In an introductory video on his website, Mr Edwards said: ‘We know the steps to freedom here at Walking Free.
‘And we want to take you by the hand, we want to talk to you straight, we want to be loving and gentle with you but strong with you as well, to help you get that place.
‘You have a future.’
