Man with most Guinness World Records smashes 31 pumpkins for new record

Guinness World Record king Ashrita Furman said he was "very happy" with the results of two Halloween-themed record-breaking attempts on Monday—smashing 31 pumpkins and catching more than 40 pieces of caramel corn in his mouth in a minute.

Furman, from the New York borough of Queens, literally "smashed" the first record, almost doubling the number of pumpkins obliterated in one minute using a hammer.

Furman said he was happy with the results and said he got better as the attempt unfolded.

"I noticed that I started hitting harder actually part way through because I noticed that if I hit harder it actually shattered the pumpkin better. But a lot of it has to do with hitting it in the right place and the right angle," said Furman.

Not wanting to waste the pumpkins, Furman said the scraps would be collected later and turned into pumpkin pies by a local chef.

Ashrita Furman, the record holder for the most Guinness world records, smashes a pumpkin during an attempt to break the record for the most pumpkins smashed in one minute, in Queens, New York, October 23, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

But one record was not enough for Furman, so with the help of his friend Bipin Larkin, the two successfully challenged the record for the most caramel-coated popcorn caught in the mouth thrown from two meters, with Furman zeroing in on 47 of the nearly-round nuggets.

"I'm really happy. It's a new record, it's joyful, it's just in time for Halloween, and I think we did quite well. We had to do a minimum of 40 catches in a minute and we did 47. So I'm thrilled," said Furman.

Furman said the stickiness and the odd shape of the coated popcorn balls presented a difficult challenge.

Furman said he currently holds more than 200 Guinness Records, including one for the most Guinness Records.

Furman dedicates all his Guinness records to the late Indian philosopher and spiritualist Sri Chinmoy and has been setting them from 1979 when he did 27,000 jumping jacks. Since then the records have fallen for Furman in countless off-beat categories.

From the fastest mile running with a milk on his head, numerous records using a hula-hoop and a pogo stick, to the fastest mile pushing an orange with his nose, these are only a fraction of the over 600 Guinness Records Furman has set though the years.

For these last two attempts, Furman said Guinness officials would have to certify the results before they become official. — Reuters