Paul Alexander: ‘Man In The Iron Lung’ Dies At The Age Of 78 (Photos)

The polio survivor known as “the man in the iron lung” has died at the age of 78.

Paul Alexander contracted polio in 1952 when he was six, leaving him paralysed from the neck down.

The disease left him unable to breathe independently, leading doctors to place him in the metal cylinder, where he would spend the rest of his life.

He would go on to earn a law degree – and practise law – as well as publish a memoir.

“Paul Alexander, ‘The Man in the Iron Lung’, passed away yesterday,” a post on a fundraising website said.
“In this time Paul went to college, became a lawyer, and a published author.

“Paul was an incredible role model.”

His brother, Philip Alexander, remembered him as a “welcoming, warm person”, with a “big smile” that instantly put people at ease.

“He was just a normal brother to me. We fought, we played, we loved, we partied, we went to concerts together – he was just a normal brother, I never thought about it,” he told the BBC.

Philip said he admired how self-sufficient his brother was, even as he dealt with an illness that stopped him performing daily tasks such as feeding himself.
He was the master of his domain, helping people to help him,” Philip added.

Paul’s health deteriorated in recent weeks and the brothers spent his final days together, sharing pints of ice cream.

“It was an honour to be with him in his last moments,” said Philip.