© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Slovakian Brothers Named Fastest Gravediggers In Central Europe

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

A couple of brothers from Slovakia are the fastest grave diggers in Central Europe. And they say it's a dream job. Ladislav and Csaba Skladan won the grave-digging championships at this week's International Exhibition of Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services.

Ten teams using only picks and shovels dug graves 5 feet deep, 6 and a half feet long and 3 feet wide. It turns out that Slovak graveyards can be crowded. So most graves are still dug by hand. The people who dig them have to work through rain and snow. The brothers won by digging a grave to spec in 54 minutes.

Ladislav Skladan told reporters, I had to focus on speed today. But, usually, if the weather is nice and I can chat with my brother, it's a dream job. The way they make grave digging sound, what kid would ever want to grow up to be a rock star? Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
Your donation helps keep nonprofit journalism free and available for everyone.