American tattoo artist and adrenaline enthusiast Funky Matas has achieved an extraordinary World Records title by becoming the person to perform a self-tattoo from the highest altitude during a skydive. Jumping from an astonishing 4,572.91 metres (15,002.98 feet), Matas successfully tattooed the word “FLY” onto his hand while in freefall, combining extreme sports with body art in a truly unique feat.
The record-breaking attempt took place over Lake Wales, Florida, where Matas completed the daring challenge while hurtling towards the ground. The extraordinary stunt required careful planning, precision, and exceptional focus, as he had only moments in freefall to complete the tattoo before deploying his parachute.
Explaining his motivation, the 38-year-old said his passion for adrenaline, tattoos, and rebellion inspired the record attempt. Organizing the challenge proved equally demanding, as several skydiving companies declined to participate due to safety concerns. Eventually, Jump Florida Skydive agreed to support the project, allowing months of preparation to culminate in the successful world record.
To prepare, Matas rehearsed by simulating the tattooing process under powerful winds generated by a large fan to replicate freefall conditions. His successful achievement has now secured him a place in World Records, demonstrating an extraordinary blend of courage, creativity, and technical skill in one of the world’s most unconventional record-breaking performances.
