Russian Alexy Bykov wanted to be absolutely sure that his girlfriend Irena truly loved him.
So, the 26-year-old computer programmer hired a director, make-up artists and even stuntmen to help fake his death as realistically as possible – before springing to life again to propose to his devastated girlfriend.
The highly questionable (and bizzare) stunt was designed to guage how deep Irena’s affections for Alexey were.
“I wanted her to realise how empty her life would be without me and how life would have no meaning without me,” Alexy told London’s Daily Mail.
“I think it worked but I promise it’s the last time,” he added.
After organising to meet Irena, he lay on the ground, covered in fake blood, as though he had died in a terrible car accident.
Then Irena arrived.
“We’d arranged to meet at a certain place but when I arrived there were mangled cars everywhere, ambulances, smoke, and carnage,’ Irena told London’s
“‘Then when I saw Alexy covered in blood lying in the road a paramedic told me he was dead and I just broke down in tears,’she says.
Irena’s world crumbled in just seconds and, unable to bear the sight of her dead boyfriend, walked away, sobbing, horrified and inconsolable.
It was then that Alexey sprang (back) to life and popped the question.
‘I was so cross I almost killed him again, but for real this time,’ said Irena who took some time to calm down.
She can’t have been too mad because, it seems, the couple married last week.
You can watch the video here.