A 50-year-old Lithuanian man convinced restaurant staff he was dying more than 20 times to avoid paying for expensive meals across Spain's tourist district of Alicante.

Aidas J. racked up €766 ($800) in unpaid restaurant bills over two months using the same performance.

The Performance That Fooled Paramedics

Aidas would order expensive items like lobster, entrecote steaks, and premium whiskeys before collapsing dramatically when the bill arrived.

El País described one incident at El Buen Comer restaurant: "He lay down on the floor, acted as if his chest hurt and began to shake."

The performances were convincing enough that ambulances would rush him to hospitals before restaurant owners could collect payment.

When Restaurants Started Comparing Notes

The manager of El Buen Comer began circulating Aidas's photo to other restaurants in the tourist area as a warning.

Restaurant owners stopped calling ambulances and started calling police instead.

Police noted that Aidas typically arrived wearing designer vests and speaking multiple languages to blend in with international tourists.

The Arresting Officer Who Knew Him By Name

One officer arrested Aidas four separate times and told local media the man would greet him with a smile during each arrest.

The officer said Aidas "apparently doesn't care about spending a night or two in the cell before going before the judge."

His most recent arrest came after consuming seafood paella and two whiskeys totaling €34.85.

42 Days Behind Bars

Aidas was first detained in November 2022 and arrested again in September.

He refused to provide an address to authorities and was handed over to local judiciary.

He spent 42 days in jail after refusing to pay fines for what authorities called his "theatrics."