A man got the surprise of his life when he finally realized his body markings actually spelled Coca-Cola, a full 26 years after he had it inscribed on his chest.

According to Vince Mattingley of Watford, Hertfordshire, he had originally asked for his name to be tattooed on his chest in Chinese characters after asking a staff at his favorite restaurant to write his name in Chinese symbols.

However, unknown to Mattingley, the waiter drew the Coke words which Vince had later etched on his chest.

Vince only realized he was a walking Coca-Cola advertisement when he recently went to Thailand where a barman asked him why he had Coca-Cola written on his chest.

"I thought it was a joke then I found out that's what it said," Mattingley said. "The restaurant staff must have had a good laugh about it."

Mattingley said he now plans to get another tattoo to cover up the name only this time, he's going "for something Japanese."