Paul Alexander, the man who spent 70 years inside an iron lung, has passed away at the age of 78. He was forced to live inside the 600-pound metallic structure after being struck down by polio at the age of six. Widely known as ‘Polio Paul’, Mr. Alexander was paralyzed from the neck down since 1952 due to the disease, leaving him unable to breathe by himself. His death was announced on his GoFundMe page on Tuesday (March 12).

Mr. Alexander faced many challenges since he was born in 1946. He endured the worst polio outbreak in US history with almost 58,000 cases – mostly children. According to a New York Post report, the disease severely affected Mr. Alexander, requiring him to use a machine to breathe.

Polio, or Poliomyelitis, is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person and can infect a person’s spinal cord, causing paralysis. It made Mr. Alexander too weak to breathe. He underwent an emergency tracheotomy and was placed in an iron lung to help his body combat the deadly disease. He relied on the neck-to-toe machine to survive since then.

The iron lung employs a technique called ‘frog breathing,’ which uses the throat muscles to force air past the vocal cords, allowing the patient to swallow oxygen one mouthful at a time, pushing it down the throat and into the lungs.

His death has left a profound impact, as Christopher Ulmer, who had set up the GoFundMe page, mentioned, ‘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.’

A message from his brother Philip read, ‘I am so grateful to everybody who donated to my brother’s fundraiser. It allowed him to live his last few years stress-free.’

Paul Alexander’s remarkable journey and resilience in the face of adversity serve as an inspiration to many, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations.