Wednesday, November 13, 2002. Posted:
00:02:35 (AEDT)
'Crazy Eric' a man for all occasions
An eccentric Frenchman who goes by the name of "Crazy Eric" has entered
the record books for the unusual feat of carrying permanently about his
body more than 1,000 useful objects.
Dubbed "the human penknife," Eric has a psychological obsession with neatness
and an ingenious line in clothes design.
"It all began very gradually about 10 years ago.
First of all it was a screwdriver, then a pair of scissors, then some
snack-bars and a torch ... just in case," Eric says. He refuses to give
his family name.
But quickly the backpack which he used became too
heavy, so he decided to "integrate my things about my person".
The
result is a sartorial tool-kit - comprising a panoply of pockets, folds
and attachments - that puts any one of 1,300 items within immediate hand's
reach.
The number has been verified by the Guinness book of
records which in its last edition grants Eric a slot as owner of the
world's "most practical suit of clothing".
Eric's outfits weigh 15
kilograms, 12 of which are gadgets of every kind.
Among his latest
innovations is a Velcro leg-pocket containing a fold-up umbrella and a
paintbrush.
"I use the brush a lot because I often end up sleeping
in odd places and this is the best way I have found for removing dust," he
says.
Elsewhere he carries a shaving kit, comprehensive first aid
gear, a mini-saw, blow-up mattress, spare batteries, a change of clothes,
water-pouch, water-filtering unit, soldering iron, tape measure, digital
camera...
Eric says his aim is not self-publicity but simply to be
prepared for all eventualities.
"It is like a doctor with his
medicine bag. I always have my kit. But if I don't need something, I don't
bring it. I used to carry a pedometer, for example, but I've just taken it
off. I never found I needed it," he says.
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