World of the Bizarre

Man who lived for over 70 years inside an iron lung has died, aged 78

By T.K. Randall
March 13, 2024 ·  9 comments

The iron lung encased his entire body apart from his head and neck. Image Credit: GoFundMe Imagine being trapped, paralyzed, inside a coffin-like metal cylinder, unable to make use of your arms and legs, with only your head protruding from the top.

Now imagine spending almost an entire lifetime of over 70 years in that situation.

This nightmarish scenario was everyday life for Paul Alexander - a man who spent more time than any other human in history living inside a device known as an iron lung.

The device was necessary to enable him to breath after he contracted polio at the age of 6.Incredibly, Alexander went on to achieve a great many things during his life, including earning a bachelor's degree and writing a book which took 5 years using a pen placed in his mouth.

He even managed to became a practicing trial lawyer and was the first person ever to graduate from high school without actually attending a single class.

While in his younger years he was able to leave the iron lung for brief periods, he was almost entirely dependent on it and required round-the-clock care and assistance.

His plight - and remarkable achievements - proved an inspiration for many, earning him great respect.

He died from an infection caused by COVID-19 on March 11th at the age of 78.


Source: NDTV.com | Comments (9)

Tags: Paul Alexander