A man grows a pumpkin weighing 500 kg and uses it as a boat to swim 70 km, SEE PHOTO

A man from the United States has fulfilled his lifelong dream of growing a pumpkin big enough to serve as a boat. Gary Christensen successfully floated 73.5 kilometers on the Columbia River in Washington, D.C., setting the record for the longest trip made in a pumpkin boat.

It took the 46-year-old 26 hours to float down the river in his self-carved pumpkin boat, which he named the ‘Punky Loafster’. Although he has been growing giant pumpkins since 2011, he carved his first boat-sized pumpkin in 2013, and the dream of sailing on one soon became a reality.

“This record attempt has been a challenge I’ve been mulling over for a long time and I finally decided to go ahead with it this year when I grew a travel-friendly pumpkin,” he told Guinness World Records.

The “Punky Loafster” grew to 14 feet in size and weighed over 555 kilograms before being transformed into a boat for Gary’s unique adventure. At harvest, the pumpkin weighed as much as a grand piano.

Gary’s pumpkin journey began on October 11th when he carved a huge vegetable into a boat. He also mounted a camera on it using a broom to document his remarkable expedition.

To let the audience know that he was indeed in a real pumpkin, Gary added the phrase “this is real” to the side of his boat.

For his safety, Harry was accompanied by several kayaks and boats during the three segments of the trip.

He swam all night, worried that a pumpkin thrown ashore might pierce him with sharp stones. “For that reason, I just kept rowing through the night and waited until sunrise for a safe landing spot,” he explained.

After leaving the boat, Gary said he felt “a little nervous but excited.” He added: “If I don’t get the record, I’m in for an incredible adventure.”