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Paul Alexander, longest surviving iron lung patient, dies at 78

March 15, 2024

Paul Alexander, the man who was confined to an iron lung for more than 70 years after contracting polio, died Monday after being hospitalized for COVID last month, according to his friends and family. Alexander, who lived in Dallas, TX, was discharged from the hospital but was struggling to eat and drink. His cause of death wasn't mentioned. (Itoh, 2024)

According to his book, “Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung," Alexander contracted polio in 1952. Soon after, he became paralyzed, and doctors at Parkland Hospital in Dallas put him in an iron lung so he could breathe. (Jiménez, 2024)

His chest muscles were too damaged to use any other machine, and he relied on the iron lung for much of his life, according to The Dallas Morning News. Despite his condition, Alexander graduated with a law degree and ran his own legal practice.

Sources:

Itoh, K. (2024, March 13). NBC News. Paul Alexander, polio survivor in iron lung for over 70 years, dies at 78 after Covid diagnosis. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/paul-alexander-polio-survivor-iron-lung-70-years-dies-78-covid-diagnos-rcna143137

Jiménez, J. (2024, March 13). The New York Times. Lawyer, Author and TikTok Star Spent 72 Years in an Iron Lung. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/13/us/paul-alexander-iron-lung-dead.html

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