Man froze himself in icy heart for bizarre Valentine's Day stunt to impress wife

A man declared his undying love to his wife on Valentine's Day by laying in a coffin of ice for 13 minutes.

The bizarre stunt was completed by former soldier Oleg Rezanov who wore just a pair of bright gold shorts during the stunt.

He lay down on the frozen ground before being covered in more snow ans water was poured on him to make a heart shape, which immediately froze in place.

Staff from Russia's emergencies ministry watched on as the challenge took place.

When he was pulled out of his icy grave, Mr Rezanov could not speak and was seen shaking, but managed to walk back to a building to warm up.

He later told reporters he had been in a trance and remembered very little from his time underground.

He said: "I inhaled twice when they buried me.

"I don’t remember further. I heard sounds periodically, very far away. But when they said '12 minutes', I heard that clearly.

"I was shocked that I coped. I am satisfied with the result. Nobody believed this could be done. I almost doubted myself.

"By testing myself, I study what a human can achieve. I want to understand who I am, why I am here and what my future path is. 

"It is testing that gives me an understanding of who I am. Secondly, these tricks have already made me 15 years younger.

"I also really hope that they will make me immortal. I will continue this way. 

"Cold is one of the keys to immortality. If you fully master the cold, hunger and movement, you can become immortal."

Asked why he carried out the stunt on Valentine's Day, which is also his birthday, he added: "Everything is fine. Irina, I love you very much! I'll be home soon."

Mr Rezanov, who has two children, claims to have held 11 world records, before today's attempt.

At the opening of the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 he swam for two minutes a distance of 125 metres in the icy water of the Black Sea.