Most people might choose a marathon or a daring bungee jump to raise awareness for a cause but one man took it to a whole new level—by volunteering to be eaten by a giant snake.

Enter Paul Rosolie, an American conservationist determined to save the Amazon rainforest.

The Amazon has seen massive deforestation, losing about 20% of its area in the past 50 years. While recent reports, like one from BBC News, noted a nearly 50% drop in deforestation in 2023, the damage remains significant. Rosolie has dedicated his life to protecting the rainforest, but in 2014, he undertook an unforgettable stunt to raise funds for the cause.

Rosolie offered himself as prey to a 20-foot-long, 18-stone (114 kg) green anaconda. The jaw-dropping event aired on Discovery Channel’s Eaten Alive, featuring footage of Rosolie being consumed by the massive reptile

To survive, Rosolie wore a custom-engineered carbon-fiber suit designed to withstand the snake’s powerful grip. The suit, streamlined to avoid harming the anaconda’s insides, was coated in pig’s blood to attract the snake. He also had a microphone to stay in contact with his team.

“The last thing I remember was seeing the snake’s mouth open, straight at my face, and then everything went black,” Rosolie shared. “It was like being caught in a wave. I was wrapped up, and you just feel that crush.

After over an hour of constriction, Rosolie tapped out as the snake began to swallow him. Despite criticism, he assured viewers that the snake was unharmed, with a veterinary team on standby throughout the experiment.