Paul Alexander, widely known as 'Polio Paul', contracted the viral disease in the summer of 1952 when he was six years old and was left paralysed from the neck down. He was rushed to hospital in Texas - and woke up inside the metal cylinder where he would spend the rest of his life.
A polio survivor, who lived inside an iron lung for 70 years, has died at the age of 78. Paul Alexander, widely known as 'Polio Paul', contracted the viral disease in the summer of 1952 when he was six years old and was left paralysed from the neck down. He was rushed to hospital in Texas - and woke up inside the metal cylinder where he would spend the rest of his life.
'It is absolutely incredible to read all the comments and know that so many people were inspired by Paul. I am just so grateful.' Mr Ulmer added: 'Paul, you will be missed but always remembered. Thanks for sharing your story with us.' Mr Alexander could leave his iron lung a few hours at a time after teaching himself to breathe, and would use a plastic stick and a pen attached to it to tap on a keyboard to communicate with people.
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