Paul Alexander Polio survivor dies at 78

Polio survivor Paul Alexander contracted the disease at the young age of six in 1952 and has finally passed away. The polio survivor popularly known as  ‘The Man in the Iron Lung’ gained the name because he spent 70 years of his life relying on a 600-pound iron lung because he was unable to breathe on his own.

The news of his demise was announced on his GoFundMe Healthcare in Dallas, Texas by his team, and since then nothing has been confirmed again.

In the news, Fundraising organizer Christopher Ulmer described him as an “incredible role model who will always be missed but remembered.” “I am so grateful to everybody who donated to my brother’s fundraiser. It allowed him to live his last few years stress-free,” said his brother Philip.

The iron lung used a technique called “frog breathing,” which allowed Alexander to swallow oxygen one mouthful at a time, pushing it down his throat and into his lungs.

Despite his condition, Mr. Alexander managed to enroll in university and earned a law degree. Nevertheless, he remained unable to leave the iron lung. He published his memoir in April 2020.

Inside the metal casing, Mr. Alexander couldn’t move or speak, which resulted in challenges communicating with the nurses caring for him. Therefore, he would often remain unwashed due to his inability to convey his needs.

Mr. Alexander was among multiple children placed inside iron lungs during a polio outbreak in the United States during the 1950s.