Thai couple Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat, who set the world record for the longest kiss—lasting 58 hours and 35 minutes—in February 2013, have announced their separation.
In a recent episode of the BBC Sounds podcast, Witness History, Ekkachai reflected on the end of their marriage, speaking with pride about their record-breaking achievement.
“I am very proud. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We spent a long time together, and I’m trying to remember the good memories and that we did this together,” he told host Megan Jones.
The couple first broke the record in 2011, when they kissed for 46 hours and 24 minutes, competing against others aiming to surpass a record of 32 hours and seven minutes.
Ekkachai shared that they had initially hesitated to enter the 2011 competition—scheduled just before Valentine’s Day—because Laksana had recently recovered from a serious illness. However, they were enticed by the promised prize of 50,000 Thai Baht (approximately £1,200 at the time) and a diamond ring.
“There were many spectators; around 14 couples were competing, and the media was swirling around us. I felt faint, and some spectators even handed me an inhaler to help.”
He recounted being “stunned” by the stringent rules for the world record attempt, which stipulated that “lips must touch at all times, the couple must remain awake, contestants must stand throughout, and aids such as supports were prohibited. Adult nappies, diapers or incontinence pads were also banned.”
While couples were permitted to use the toilet, they were “required to remain kissing” during the process.
Ekkachai noted that many competitors could not withstand the pressure and collapsed, while he reached a point of exhaustion after 20 hours, barely able to stand. His wife urged him, “We need to keep fighting,” motivating him to continue.
During the final stages of the competition, when only two couples remained, Ekkachai noticed their opponents had fallen asleep. “When their lips parted, I knew we had won.”
“Only crazy people would accomplish something like that; a normal person wouldn’t even attempt it,” Ekkachai chuckled, recalling the reactions of friends and family who congratulated them.
However, their title was short-lived. In 2012, they were surpassed by two Thai men, Nonthawat Charoenkaesornsin and Thanakorn Sitthiamthong, who broke the record with a kiss lasting 50 hours and 25 minutes.
Determined to reclaim their title in 2013—whom Ekkachai referred to as their “Roman Empire”—they were motivated by a new prize of 100,000 Thai Baht (around £2,350) and two diamond rings.
Ekkachai expressed their resolve to “take back what belonged to us,” training rigorously for the competition, ultimately outlasting their rivals.
“We tried to stand straight like statues. Instead of pinching each other, we tapped each other’s heads with one hand while the other hand hugged to stay awake,” he recalled.
“We learned from our past experiences. We didn’t worry too much and stayed relaxed. Some couples even danced to keep their energy up.”
In the final hours, their second-place counterparts surrendered by raising their hands. “I was happy but overshadowed by fatigue. I just wanted to rest and drink,” he confessed.
According to Guinness World Records, they completed their victorious kiss in 58 hours, 35 minutes, and 58 seconds. However, the Guinness World Records has since deactivated the longest kiss category due to safety concerns and changes in their policies, leaving Ekkachai and Laksana as the last record holders.
