Born-again Christian goes to his grave ... for 72 hours

Born-again Christian John Edwards, in his 60s and from Dublin, is taking part in the stunt in an unusual bid to try and offer “hope” to those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts and addiction.

The former drug and alcohol addict, who has been sober for 26 years, was interred in front of a crowd at about 2.30pm at Willowfield church in east Belfast.

Speaking just before he got into the box, which has a bedside light and allows him just about enough space to sit up, he said: “I’m going into the grave now for the next 72 hours.

“It sounds like a crazy idea, but I’ve just been to too many funerals of young people committing suicide and overdosing.

“I’ve seen 23 of my 30 friends die from AIDS, through dirty needles, hepatitis C, and through suicide as well.”

He said it was time for “radical” ideas in order to reach people, adding: “I believe that over the next 72 hours we’re going to reach a lot of people.”

The crowd was told he will be speaking in the church itself on Sunday at 10am, 11.30am, 5.30pm, and 7pm.

He ended by saying: “God bless you all, and thanks very much for putting up with this crazy Dublin man.”

Once inside and buried, he then broadcast footage from the inside of his “coffin”, via the following website: www.walkingfree.org/live.

He spoke about his Christian journey, and at one point a pair of teenage girls phoned to ask him about the experience.

He then took a break from his video to relieve himself, though it was not immediately apparent from the video exactly what facilities he had.

He performed a similar thing in 2016 in Halifax, England. At that time, it was reported that he received food and water through a pipe, whilst another pipe was connected to a caravan toilet.