Ukrainian man breaks world record for bone tattoos
A Ukrainian man broke the record held by Zombie Boy, the most famous figure in the world of body art (Photo: Lana Vetrova/Facebook)
A 28-year-old forensic nurse from Lviv Oblast has broken the world record for the most anatomical bone tattoos, surpassing the late Canadian artist Rick Genest, the National Register of Records of Ukraine reported on April 27.
Oleh Karpa, a nurse from Drohobych, created a comprehensive visual guide to human skeletal anatomy on his own skin. Lana Vetrova, head of the National Register of Records, said that Karpa’s tattoos were verified for their scientific accuracy.
"Together with a pathologist, we spent three hours counting the bone tattoos, examining every centimeter of Oleh's body," Vetrova stated. "This wasn't as simple as taking a mirror selfie."
The medical expert confirmed that each tattoo precisely duplicates the structure of the human skeleton. In total, 230 individual bones were identified on Karpa’s body, significantly exceeding the 139 bones recorded by the previous titleholder, Rick Genest (famously known as "Zombie Boy").
Addressing why the count exceeds the standard 206 bones in the human body, Vetrova explained: "We recorded record-breaking anatomical detail—this includes sesamoid bones and the smallest bones of the metacarpus, metatarsus, and phalanges, which are often omitted in simplified models. It is exquisite scientific precision."
While Karpa’s body is almost entirely covered, he chose to leave his face clear. He jokingly noted this was to "protect the nervous systems of the elderly ladies sitting on the benches near his apartment entrance."
“So while his neighbors see him as just a polite young man, the doctor and I have documented a true living anatomy on his body. It looks incredible,” adds the head of the National Register of Records.
Karpa works as a forensic medical nurse in a morgue and is a pioneer of thanatopraxy (the art of temporary preservation and cosmetic restoration of the deceased) in Ukraine, where he conducts both online and offline courses.
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