GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands — Greenville’s Steve Benson held his breath for seven minutes, 43 seconds, setting a men’s U.S. record in the freediving discipline of static apnea on May 8 at an international freediving competition.

Static apnea challenges breath-hold divers to float facedown in the water for as long as possible under the supervision of safety divers and official judges.

A physician’s assistant at Eastern Urological Associates, Benson surpassed the static apnea record of 7:39, set by Hawaii’s Bill Graham in July 2009.

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