Indian man sets world record for having swarm of 60,000 bees on his face for four hours

A 24-year-old youth from southern India's Kerala has set a new Guinness World Record after he let 60,000 honey bees cover his face for four hours, 10 minutes and five seconds.

The dangerous feat was achieved on 31 December 2017.

A resident of Thrissur, Nature M.S., had a close companionship with bees while growing up in his father's bee farm in Kerala.

He said: "I used to impress my friends doing cool tricks with honey bees since I was young." Nature was introduced to the buzzing world by his father, who happens to be an award-winning beekeeper and honey maker.

"My first experience was when I held out a queen bee on my palm, and shortly afterwards other bees gathered around my hand to protect her.

Soon within 15 minutes, my palm was completely covered in bees," he said.

Nature added that he performed the same trick on his head, letting the insects envelop him.

When asked if the thought of getting stung scared him, Nature said even before he learnt the fact that honeybee stings are dangerous, he had developed a special bond with them.

When he grew up, along with his father, Nature started campaigning about bee protection and the importance of beekeeping.

His attraction for his buzzing friends has led him to pursue academic studies in apiculture for masters at a college in Bangalore, India.

"My attempt for Guinness World Record was a part of the awareness program that we are trying to raise on honey bees.

We must protect them.

Honey bees form a crucial part of our sustenance on Earth and its ecosystem.

India once had a huge number of beekeepers.

Now the art of beekeeping has diminished to near extinction," he said.

The previous record that Nature broke was for 53 minutes and was held by a Chinese man.

Nature remains hopeful about the art of beekeeping and wants to pursue it further after completing his studies.