‘Man in iron lung’ Paul Alexander dead at 78
- Paralysed from age 6, the polio survivor from Texas earned a law degree and wrote a book while relying on the submarine-like device to help him breathe
- A prior update on Alexander’s official TikTok account said he had been rushed to the emergency room after contracting Covid-19
02:07
‘Man in iron lung’ Paul Alexander dead at 78
A polio survivor known as the “man in the iron lung” has died aged 78, according to his family and a fundraising website.
Paul Alexander of Dallas, Texas contracted polio at the age of six, leaving him paralysed from the neck down and reliant on a mechanical respirator to breathe for much of the time.
Though often confined to his submarine-like cylinder, he excelled in his studies, earned a law degree, worked in the legal field and wrote a book.
“With a heavy heart I need to say my brother passed last night,” Philip Alexander posted on Facebook early on Wednesday. “It was an honour to be part of someone’s life who was as admired as he was.”
Christopher Ulmer, a disability advocate running a fundraiser for Alexander, also confirmed his death in a GoFundMe update posted on Tuesday.
“His story travelled wide and far, positively influencing people around the world. Paul was an incredible role model that will continue to be remembered,” said Ulmer.
