Paul Alexander lived more than 70 years inside the lung (Picture: GoFundMe)
A man who lived inside an iron lung for 70 years has died at the age of 78.
Paul Alexander, widely known as Polio Paul, contracted polio in 1952 when he was just six-years-old.
He was rushed to hospital in Texas after developing symptoms, and woke up inside the mechanical lung where he would spend the rest of his life.
An update on his GoFundMe reads: ‘Paul Alexander, “The Man in the Iron Lung”, passed away yesterday.
‘After surviving polio as a child, he lived over 70 years inside of an iron lung.
‘In this time Paul went to college, became a lawyer, and a published author.
‘His story traveled wide and far, positively influencing people around the world.
‘Paul was an incredible role model that will continue to be remembered.
What is polio?
Polio – or poliomyelitis – is a viral infection that has been around for 5,000 years and only affects children under the age of five.
There is no cure for the condition and can lead to paralysis, muscle weakness, shrinking of the muscles and even death.
The last diagnosed case of polio in the UK was in 1984 but the virus hasn’t been seen since due to a widespread vaccination programme introduced in the mid-1950s.
‘Polio Paul’ contracted the disease in 1952 and has been inside the lung ever since (Picture: Youtube)
‘Paul, you will be missed but always remembered.’
A vaccine as invented in 1955, but this was too late for Paul who left unable to move from the neck down.
He decided to continue using the iron lung despite modern ventilators existing since the 1960s because it was what he was used to.
He graduated from high school and university with a law degree.
Paul even represented clients in court, wearing a three-piece suit in a wheelchair while practicing ‘frog breathing’, which allows people to gulp air down with their throats instead of their lungs for short periods.
What is an iron lung?
Many children affected by the disease had to be put in 7 ft metal cases which use a vacuum to push air in and out of their own lungs.
The inventions of the vaccine in 1955 and modern ventilators in the 1960s meant iron lungs were no longer needed.
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