A Ukrainian thanatopractor with 230 skeleton tattoos has broken a world record

Oleh Karpa: Thanatopractor and Record Holder

According to Главком: Oleh Karpa, a 28-year-old resident of Drohobych, works as a thanatopractor and a forensic medical nurse. Over six years in his profession, he has collected numerous requests from the relatives of the deceased he encounters on the job. In addition, Karpa set a world record for the most bone-themed tattoos on a single body-230 in total, which replicate the anatomy of the human skeleton. This achievement surpasses the record previously held by the famous Zombie Boy.

Family Wishes and Attitudes Toward Death

Through his work, Karpa has noticed that the most common request from relatives is to place alcohol in the coffin. 'Yes, they ask for alcohol. I wouldn't even call it an unusual request-it's more of a norm in our mentality, if the person drank during their lifetime,' he comments. There have also been cases where relatives asked for two shot glasses because the deceased had recently lost a close friend, and they wanted the two to drink together.

Among the more unusual items, relatives sometimes ask to place toys in the coffin. 'Occasionally, they ask for toys. For older people, in fact, I've placed toys multiple times,' Karpa notes. He also mentions that relatives sometimes ask him to touch up the deceased's hair if they didn't get a chance to do so before death, so they can look good in the afterlife. 'I accommodate all requests if they are reasonable,' he adds.

Karpa also shared his thoughts on religion and death. 'I believe in God, of course, and I believe there is something higher above us. But as for religion... I've become skeptical of the church and everything surrounding it. I realize it's nothing more than a business. The question of death isn't something to dwell on. It's inevitable, and you have to accept it as a fact,' he says, emphasizing the importance of embracing death as a part of life.

Karpa's experiences and observations of relatives' wishes reflect the cultural and social aspects of how death is perceived in Ukrainian society. His record number of tattoos highlights individuality and self-expression, even within a profession tied to mortality. These facts underscore how death and the memory of the departed remain significant themes in people's lives, while also prompting reflection on attitudes toward religion and traditions in the modern world.