Patrick Shirkey came equipped to East Coast Sandwiches on Sunday with one simple strategy: Hunger.

"I haven't eaten any breakfast this morning," he said.

Shirkey, 41, of Leetsdale, was the first person to take on the "East Coast Sandwiches Meatball Sub Challenge," an eating contest that involved ingesting a 3-foot sandwich in 45 minutes or less. Pull it off and the $40 sandwich is free.

It took both the restaurant owner, Matt Cuomo, and a helpful employee to carry the large sandwich to Shirkey's equally large table. 

Prior to the challenge, Shirkey admitted that as a younger man, he might have been able to finish off the sub. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 224 pounds today, he couldn't be sure. 

"I'm going to do my very best," he said.

His wife, Liz, and two daughters Brooke and Savannah were there for support.

Liz Shirkey said she was surprised to learn her husband, a regular at the restaurant, was going to try the food challenge, but she also had a positive outlook.

"We can always have leftovers if he doesn't eat it," she said.

Do you think Patrick Shirkey finished the sandwich? Watch the video to find out.

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