Paul Alexander, an American man who spent more than 70 years living in an iron lung, passed away at the age of 78.
Paul Richard Alexander (January 30, 1946 – March 11, 2024) was an American lawyer and paralytic polio survivor. He was known as the last man living in an iron lung.
Alexander’s life was forever changed when he contracted polio at the age of six, leaving him paralyzed for life. He was only able to move his head, neck, and mouth, facing significant challenges in mobility and daily activities. During a major outbreak of polio in the early 1950s in the United States, including around Dallas, Texas, Alexander was among hundreds of children taken to Parkland Hospital.
At Parkland Hospital, children like Alexander were treated in a ward filled with iron lungs, which were essential life-support devices for those paralyzed by polio. Alexander’s condition became critical during his time in the hospital, as he nearly died before a doctor noticed he had stopped breathing and rushed him into an iron lung, saving his life.
Iron lungs are no longer widely used in contemporary medicine, as they have been supplanted by modern ventilators and the widespread adoption of tracheal intubation.
Despite being confined to a 600-pound iron lung, Alexander was an ambitious individual with a passion for life. He achieved his law degree, passed the bar exam to become a lawyer, and authored a book, all while his entire body, except his head, remained immobilized in the machine.
“I knew if I was going to do anything with my life, it was going to have to be a mental thing,” he told the Guardian in 2020.
As one of the last remaining polio survivors dependent on an iron lung, Alexander lived with the massive, coffin-shaped machine that served as a mechanical respirator, pushing air into his lungs using negative pressure. While most patients spent only a few weeks or months in an iron lung, for individuals like Alexander with permanently paralyzed chest muscles, it meant a lifetime relying on the machine.
Alexander’s passing was announced on a GoFundMe page created in 2022 to support him financially. The page revealed that Alexander had been previously exploited by a caregiver who stole his money, leaving him unable to afford the high cost of his healthcare.
In February, Alexander’s social media manager, Lincoln, reported on TikTok that Alexander had been hospitalized with COVID-19. Lincoln emphasized the significant danger posed by the illness for someone with Alexander’s condition. Although Alexander was discharged from the hospital, he remained weak, prompting him to take a break from creating videos. This update marked the last post on Alexander’s social media page. The exact cause of Paul’s death remains unclear.
Alexander’s positive attitude, despite his challenging condition, served as an inspiration to many. He once remarked, “Being positive is a way of life for me,” highlighting his resilient approach to staying motivated through life’s various challenges.
