Paul Alexander, Polio Survivor and Man in Iron Lung for Seven Decades, Dies at 78
HOUSTON, TEXAS – Paul Alexander, who lived in an iron lung for more than 70 years after contracting polio as a child, has died at the age of 78. According to a statement from his family, Alexander passed away on Monday at a Dallas hospital due to complications from a COVID-19 infection he contracted in February. He was one of the last known individuals to rely on a negative pressure ventilator, commonly known as an iron lung, which helped him breathe after the poliovirus paralyzed his diaphragm and chest muscles in 1952. Alexander defied medical expectations, becoming a lawyer, published author, and prominent advocate for the disabled community. The cause of his death was listed as an acute respiratory illness. The Iron Lung Museum in Texas, which preserves historical medical equipment, confirmed the news and noted his record as the longest-surviving user of the device. Alexander’s legacy highlights both the devastating impact of polio and the resilience of those living with its effects.