Hayden Haynes sets a new world record by surviving 17 days inside a cage submerged in a crocodile-infested river
- The endurance stunt took place in the Florida Everglades, where Haynes lived in a 6x8 foot steel cage, relying only on a filtration system for drinking water and a small fan for ventilation.
- He faced constant threats from aggressive alligators and crocodiles that would ram into the cage, puncture it with their teeth, and attempt to flip it over—forcing him to use a handheld taser to keep them at bay.
- The previous record was 11 days, set by a different survivalist in 2019; Haynes smashed it by an additional week, despite losing 22 pounds and suffering from severe sleep deprivation.
- The stunt was livestreamed globally and raised over $500,000 for wildlife conservation, with proceeds going to the Everglades Foundation to protect the habitat of the very animals that terrorized him.
- Experts are divided: biologists call it a dangerous publicity stunt that stresses wild animals, while psychologists praise it as a testament to human endurance and mental fortitude.