Man Fakes His Own Death Shocks Family at Funeral to Teach the Value of Staying Connected
In a shocking bid to rekindle family ties, Belgian man David Baerten staged his own death and surprised his relatives by arriving at his own “funeral” in a helicopter. The elaborate plan, which Baerten claimed was a “prank” intended to teach his family the importance of staying connected, left mourners shocked and stirred considerable controversy online.
According to The Independent, Baerten, feeling “unappreciated” and distant from his family, staged the event to deliver a strong message about family bonds. Speaking on the French chat show Touche Pas à Mon Poste (TPMP), Baerten explained, “Nobody sees me. We all grew apart. I felt unappreciated. That’s why I wanted to give them a life lesson and show them that you shouldn’t wait until someone is dead to meet up with them.”
The event, held near Liege, included a heartfelt tribute from one of Baerten’s daughters. She wrote, “Rest in peace, Daddy. I will never stop thinking about you… Why you? You were going to be a grandfather, and you still had your whole life ahead of you.” However, what she didn’t realize was that her father would arrive shortly thereafter, landing in a helicopter and giving grieving family members an emotional shock. A TikTok video from attendee Thomas Faut (@el.tiktokeur2) captured the dramatic arrival and showed tearful relatives embracing Baerten, stunned by his reappearance.
Despite some positive reactions, many viewers and online commenters found Baerten’s stunt harsh and hurtful. Criticizing the trauma it could cause his family, one person tweeted, “What kind of lesson does he want to teach his family? The trauma implications…I don’t think the family can bear [it] for a long time.” Others echoed this sentiment, suggesting that a conversation would have been more appropriate than a faked death.
Baerten later addressed his motives in a video, explaining that he felt invisible to his loved ones. He revealed that only half of his family showed up for the mock funeral, though some relatives reached out afterward, proving, in his view, “who really cares about me.” However, he admitted regrets, sharing on TPMP, “As soon as I started receiving messages from people and videos of them crying, I wished I could cancel the whole thing, but it was too late.”
Baerten’s wife was aware of the plan and attempted to stop it, he disclosed, though his children were kept in the dark initially. He explained that he only went through with it after his film crew insisted he inform close family members.
Baerten’s extreme tactic serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining connections with loved ones. For anyone feeling disconnected, his story highlights that genuine communication is vital — and perhaps best achieved with a phone call or visit, rather than drastic measures.