superyacht looks like submarine

U-Boat Worx’s Nautilus

The exterior.

U-Boat Worx’s Nautilus Superyacht-Submarine

The dining area.

The bow lounge.

The main deck lounge.

The observation lounge.

The owner’s suite.

The owner’s en suite.

A guest stateroom.

The Nautilus and the Aronnax tender.

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Tour the World’s Most Luxurious Submarine Superyacht

By Dave Banks

Photography by Migaloo

If yacht owners really want to put everyone at port to shame, they should consider sailing on the Migaloo Private Submersible Yacht. A concept yacht created by Migaloo, an Austrian design and engineering firm, the line of luxury superyachts offers a range of bespoke underwater crafts that vary in size. After sailing the new Migaloo submersible yacht on the water, owners can close up the decks and turn the craft into a fully operational submarine.

“What we are attempting to do is to create a living space where exterior and interior interact in harmony,” says Christian Gumpold, managing director and head of design at Migaloo. With rooms that open to the ocean for dining alfresco while above water, and large viewing galleries for taking in the marine life when submersed, the Migaloo creates that harmony. What’s more, the firm reaffirms its focus on luxury with optional amenities that include helipads, swimming pools, movie theaters, elevators, wine cellars, libraries, and private terraces.

The Migaloo submersible yacht moving underwater.

Of course, safety is a major focal point as well. Each superyacht will be built to U.S. Navy SUBSAFE safety standards, which ensure that the interiors will stay watertight and the vessel can recover from unanticipated flooding. According to Migaloo, solitude is a major point of interest for yacht owners, which is why the ability to dive beneath the surface and out of view might have great appeal. “Privacy is a big issue on superyachts,” says Gumpold, “our answer to this concern is simply submerging the vessel into complete privacy.”

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What an underwater superyacht could look like

by Mariska Buitendijk | Oct 17, 2022 | News , Ship design , Shipbuilding , Submarines , Yachts

Dutch U-Boat Worx has revealed the design of a 1250-tonne, 37.5-metre yacht submarine, the Nautilus. The underwater superyacht could be built within thirty months and comes with a price tag of EU 25 million.

Since Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea came out in 1870, people have been dreaming of a luxury yacht with dive capabilities. Since then, inventors produced a lot of impressive concepts. Unfortunately, not one of these designs has ever been realised.

U-Boat Worx designs and builds small submersibles, and says it has now finally succeeded in engineering a realistic combination of luxury and safety in a fully certified private submersible.

The diesel-electric Nautilus has a depth rating of 200 metres, with a surface cruise speed of 9 knots and an underwater speed of 4 knots. Once ordered, the company can deliver a Nautilus within thirty months.

Also read: Feadship yacht equipped with private submarine of Dutch design

Yacht features

When functioning as a boat, the Nautilus offers a massive sundeck equipped with a freshwater pool, a bar, and a luxurious dining table. This al fresco arrangement is retracted before the submersible slips below sea level.

The Nautilus interior features a 50-m2 dinner and lounge area with four circular windows. Each with diameters close to 4 metres. The proposed design has a master bedroom and four staterooms, as well as sleeping quarters for up to six crew. The vessel will also be fitted with a fully equipped galley, while the interior layouts are fully customisable.

Underwater for four days

The superyacht submarine will be able to stay under water for up to four days. At cruise speed, the underwater endurance is six hours. When not in use, the Nautilus can be docked at any quay that can accommodate its 6.5-metre draugh. The Nautilus has a starting price of EUR 25 million.

A newly invented, completely pressure-resistant electrical tender is stowed under the Nautilus’ aft deck and will stay outside while diving. This tender, the Aronnax, may also be used for transporting five scuba divers underwater to the intended dive spot.

‘People that have decided to buy a yacht will now have to consider if their vessel of choice can also dive down to 200 metres,’ says U-Boat Worx Chairman and Founder Bert Houtman. As an added bonus, the Nautilus combats seasickness. Houtman: ‘If the sea becomes too rough, you simply dive and continue your voyage in comfort.’

Also read: Good times for yacht building – What Royal Huisman is up to

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Elena Nappi’s Futuristic Submarine-superyacht Hybrid Concept

The concept for the CARAPACE yacht is sent straight from the future.

The 78m vessel has been conceptualized to double as a submarine that can dive to 985 feet.

Elena Nappi, an Italian based naval architect, has dreamed up this futuristic vessel.

The hybrid is designed for cruising the high seas and exploring the underwater world with its marine capabilities. 

Many superyacht owners may enjoy showing their boat off on the water surface.

But there are a select few who would be willing to pay the estimated $300 million price tag to submerge beneath the ocean and buy themselves the privacy of a vessel that can disappear underwater for up to 10 days at a time.

CARAPACE yacht interior

The interior of the CARAPACE yacht has all the features that one expects from a luxury superyacht.

The vessel has on-deck entertainment areas that include a beach club and pool.

The three-level boat has several indulgent amenities that can be accessed whether the boat is above or below the water.

There is a lounge, large dining room, a bar, a spa, and a health club.

In addition to the onboard amenities, the underwater views promise to be breathtaking. 

The CARAPACE yacht designer Elena Nappi told CNN , “The world of luxury submarines is one of the last frontiers of experimentation, and perhaps the hybrid will be the language of the future.

Very often yacht owners are looking for original solutions to be able to offer their friends and their family something special, and certainly, that of a diving cruise of this type is something unprecedented in the superyacht market.”

The exterior of the CARAPACE yacht stands out amongst the traditional superyacht crowd, with organic lines meeting futuristic technology.

The light aluminum superstructure makes the exterior truly unique.

These are also the features that can be completely sealed up, allowing the vessel to submerge beneath the waves. 

Nappi believes that this submergible feature will offer guests a truly private getaway while on board.

The hybrid vessel will be able to stay underwater for up to ten days.

This privacy feature will likely appeal to business people who want an added level of secrecy for important meetings.

Specifications

Nappi is designed to be powered by diesel-electric and fuel cell systems that will give the CARAPACE yacht a range of 2400 miles.

The yacht’s top speed will be 16 knots on the surface and 12 knots below the surface.

If the creation ever comes to life, the yacht hybrid will have a price tag in the hundreds of millions to achieve the futuristic design.

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The luxury yacht that turns into a submarine

A rendering of hybrid vessel Carapace, which can transform into a submarine. (Courtesy Elena Nappi)

It looks like something straight out of a James Bond movie, but this concept might just signal that the future of superyachts is sub-aquatic.

Dreamed up by Italian-based naval architect Elena Nappi, the hybrid vessel can travel on both the surface of the sea and underwater.

Known as the "Carapace," it submerges to a depth of 985 feet for up to 10 days at a time, offering amazing views of marine life.

Nappi, who came up with the innovative concept after years of nautical experimentation research, says it represents a "new class of mega yachts," bringing together the cosiness of luxury yachts and the "privacy" of immersion navigation.

Hybrid vessel

"The world of luxury submarines is one of the last frontiers in the field of experimentation, and perhaps the hybrid will be the language of the future," Nappi says in a statement.

"Very often yacht owners are looking for original solutions to be able to offer their friends and their family something special, and certainly that of a diving cruise of this type is something unprecedented in the super yacht market."

Carapace, which would be powered by a diesel-electric and fuel cell system, is designed to have a light aluminum superstructure that measures 256 feet in length.

It would hold three deck levels, with VIP cabins, a lounge, a spa, a bar and health club among the onboard amenities.

Pioneering design

Nappi envisions it being hired for private trips, as well as business meetings that require "complete secrecy."

Although there's no indication of a price as yet, it's thought the vessel will set buyers back some hundreds of millions.

But anyone hoping to get this hands on this mega yacht should sit tight.

At present, the Carapace is merely a concept, and Nappi predicts it will be a long while before anything like it hits the waters.

"If we make a comparison with the automotive sector, it is not hard to understand that the road to this type of boat is still very far away," she adds.

"The first electric car was built in 1884 and is only on the market today, so it is impossible to think that a harness like this could be put on the market before 100 years."

Nappi is currently a designer for Italian shipyard Fincantier, but the company is not involved in the Carapace project.

The vessel concept represents a "new class of mega yachts," according to its designer. (Courtesy Elena Nappi)

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Meet Carapace - superyacht which transforms into a submarine

Meet Carapace, a 78-meter-long, ultra-luxury yacht that looks like it fell out of a James Bond movie…

Conceptualized by thirty-four-year-old Italian designer, Elena Napi, this yacht moves through the water like a normal ship, but can also be transformed into a fully functional submarine. The idea behind this radical yacht design may remind you of Captain Nautilus and sounds like the perfect billionaire toy.

The decadent hybrid ship is currently under development in Italy and is expected to be completed by 2021. According to the designer, Carapace has a maximum floating speed of 16 knots, so it can sail on a regular basis, as well as all other yachts of sailing dimensions, while it can be transformed into a submarine with a maximum depth of 300 meters.

As Elena states, the luxury hybrid ship has a lightweight aluminum superstructure and is powered by a diesel-electric powertrain, with a fuel cell system. “The Carapace Yacht is designed for both private and public markets. Its interior offers top-notch amenities such as a VIP cabin, lodge, spa, bar and gym. The company working on the development of this ship says it is designed to accommodate passengers with reduced mobility. ” For now, we do not have information yet on how much this yacht will cost when it's finished, but we believe the price will reach several hundred million dollars

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Insane Carapace Superyacht Doubles as a Functional Submarine That Can Dive 985-Feet

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The world of luxury submarines is one of the last frontiers in the field of experimentation, and perhaps the hybrid will be the language of the future. Very often yacht owners are looking for original solutions to be able to offer their friends and their family something special, and certainly that of a diving cruise of this type is something unprecedented in the superyacht market,” said Nappi to CNN.

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Inside the luxury £22million superyacht submarine with mind-blowing views of the ocean

• Millie Turner , Technology & Science Reporter
• Published : 6:20 ET, Apr 20 2023
• Updated : 7:02 ET, Apr 20 2023

A DUTCH company has unveiled a dazzling £22million superyacht submarine which looks like a Bond villain's getaway - fresh out of fiction.

The 37.5metre U-Boat Worx underwater superyacht, called Nautilus, can transport up to 17 people, including crew.

First presented during the premium Monaco Yacht Show 2022, the design has been co-developed with German-Turkish yacht and aviation design studio Officina Armare. 

Capable of functioning as both an on-and-below-water vessel, the superyacht can reach depths as far as 150metres down.

The vessel stay underwater for up to four days at a time.

It is the embodiment of luxury, and something only very few people on this Earth will ever have the luck, power or money to experience.

The submarine part of the boat has 360 views of the ocean, where you can see swimmers above and fishes below.

Besides the views, the below deck interior is kitted out with a low-lit mesh of Japanese and Nordic minimalist design, known to architecture buffs as Japandi.

This helps balance the surreal, maximalist views that are available.

"Our approach to submarine design is based on individuality and personal style," said U-Boat Worx, the company behind the stunning vehicle.

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"At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that our customers’ tastes, habits, and preferences should shape the design of their vessel."

The design has been influenced by Verne's 1870 novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, according to U-Boat Worx.

Inside is a massive 50 square metre dinner and lounge area, called the Mezzanine Observation Lounge, which features four metre circular windows.

There is also a master cabin and en suite, alongside four more cabins and sleeping quarters for up to six crew, as well as a gym.

On the sundeck, the boat has been kitted out with a freshwater pool, bar and dining table - which can all be retracted when the vessel lowers below the ocean's surface.

U-Boat Worx chairman and founder Bert Houtman said: “People that have decided to buy a yacht will now have to consider if their vessel of choice can also dive down to 150 meters.

“If the sea becomes too rough... You simply dive and continue your voyage in comfort.

"With the Nautilus, the yachting market will never be the same again.”

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Exclusive: russian billionaire's submarine style mega yacht can be yours for only $300 million.

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Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko has quietly listed his famed submarine style Superyacht A for the discounted price of $300 million according to our friends at SuperYachtFan . I was fortunate to have been invited aboard the mega-yacht several times when it visited Malibu, California and was anchored directly in front of my house for extended periods of time.  It was quite simply one of the most beautiful yachts I had ever been on and any new buyer can consider them fortunate to own one of the most iconic vessels of all time. For a cost.

The billionaire is upgrading to a massive $400 million, 469 foot Sailing Yacht (also named A), which is nearing completion at Nobis krug.  She will have eight decks and will feature a one foot thick glass underwater observation area, located in the keel. Like the Motor Yacht A, the Sailing Yacht A is designed by Philippe Starck, and some of her design features are similar to the current A. Her masts will be the largest in the world, the three masts tower up to 328 feet above the water level, with a crow’s nest at 200 feet. She will be powered by a hybrid diesel-electric package with controllable pitch propellers and will reach a top speed of 21 knots, with a cruising speed at 16 knots.  There are 24 shell doors in the hull, her decks are connected by several elevators and it will carry a submarine.  She will accommodate 20 guests with a crew of 54.

Melnichenko reportedly spent over $400 million on the construction of the 394 foot yacht he has for sale, with 23,600 square feet of living space. Designed by Philippe Starck, the Vegas style interiors include an all-white master bomb proof suite.

The huge 240-square-meter cabin is located in the upper part of the cockpit. The walls of the spiral stairs leading to the cabin are coated with silver plates. The king size bed sits on the rotating podium. All crystal items on board the yacht are made by Baccarat.

The window panes of the motor yacht are 44-millimeter thick and can withstand a grenade explosion. Each of the six guest cabins comes complete with steel Jacuzzis and mirror walls. Designer Philippe Stark also designed the uniforms for the 37 crew members including all white daytime suits and all black night uniforms.

In addition to three swimming pools, the A boasts a helipad, an amphibious vehicle and two stunning tenders. Each of them cost over $1.5 million.

The motor yacht A can reach a speed of 24 knots, with twin 24,000 horsepower engines using up more than $500,000 worth of gas every time it is filled up.

Andrey Melnichenko was born on March 8, 1972 in Gomel, Belarus. He owns majority stakes in fertilizer producer Eurochem, coal producer SUEK, and power generator SGK. His first venture in the early 1990s was a chain of currency-exchange booths from which he cofounded MDM Bank. He later founded Eurochem, SUEK, and pipe exporter TMK, with Sergei Popov, a former metals trader from Ural with whom he started working in 2000. Six years later, the partners began divvying up their assets and entirely separated by 2012, with Popov getting the bank and Melnichenko getting the other assets.

Forbes has listed Melnichenko as one of Europe’s youngest billionaires in the world with a fortune of $10.2 billion.

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A rare look inside Nord, the $500 million megayacht of Russia’s richest man Alexei Mordashov. The 464 feet long tuxedo donning warship has palatial interiors. For extra fun, its garage has a hovercraft, a deep-diving submarine, ATV’s, a few Toyota Land Cruisers, and more.

The video shows us first-hand the elegance and enormousness of a megayacht in the truest sense of the term. From seemingly unending corridors to well-appointed interiors and the most insane tender garage, the Nord is a massive ship that’s impressive from the word go.

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4 superyachts for charter that come with their own submarine

When deciding which boat you’d like to charter, there a few things that you’ll be taking into account: How many does it sleep? What facilities are available onboard? Will the chef cook things I like etc etc. The big question for some though is, what does the yacht toy line up look like? Yacht toys are a pretty big deal and from slides to seabobs, you’ll find a whole array of different gadgets on offer. The most exciting by all accounts though has got to be the Superyacht submarine. More and more are creeping into Superyacht toy collections around the world and you’ll be pleased to know there are now a few on offer on charter vessels .

6 Superyacht Submarines:

Builder: Damen Yachting Length: 77m Number of guests: 12

Launched by Damen Yachting in 2020, Explorer Yacht, ‘La Datcha’ features exterior styling by Azure Naval Architects and an interior design crafted by Vasiliy Shprits. She has an enhanced fuel tank, improved garbage management system and enough provisions and facilities for 40 days of cruising!

If you’re looking to go on an adventure of a lifetime, La Datcha has a three-person submersible submarine for charter guests to explore the deepest depths of the oceans, taking in the marine life. As well as, a pair of helicopters – twin Airbus H125s to whisk guests off to off the beaten track spots.

Gamechanger

Builder: Damen Yachting Length: 72.15m Number of guests: 11

The 72.15m explorer yacht, Gamechanger was launched by Damen yachting in 2017 and since gone on to have explored over  50,000 nautical miles. Amongst her toys, which include a 12-metre Intrepid tender, a dive centre, a helipad and hangar with refueling capabilities, is the three-person Uboat-Worx Submersible Submarine.

For more information on the U-Boat Work super sub, click here. 

Builder: Auroux Length: 55.75m Number of guests: 12

If you love an adventure then explorer yacht ALUCIA will be exactly what you’re looking for. Originally built in 1974 as a support boat, she underwent a major refit in 2016 to make her the incredible diving vessel that she is today. She is the only boat in the world with the capacity for three manned submersibles all able to dive down to a depth of 1000m and her capabilities have meant that these incredible facilities have been used by the Discovery Channel for their programme “Monster Squid, the Giant is Real”.

Her Superyacht submarine collection includes a Triton 3300/3 and a Deep Rover, both of which can reach a depth of 1000m. If you’d rather get out in the water in your scuba gear then you won’t be surprised to know she comes with all the latest equipment to ensure you have an incredible dive.

Builder: Damen Length: 54.99m Number of guests: 6

AD-VANTAGE is the support vessel for superyacht VANTAGE and carries a fabulous selection of toys onboard for all to enjoy. They are often chartered together, but if you’re after an incredible diving experience with just your nearest and dearest AD-VANTAGE is all you need.

She was originally launched in 2012 as an Offshore Crew supply boat but underwent a major refit in 2015. Among the array of toys carried onboard you’ll find the yacht’s Triton submarine, which can be included in your charter for an extra $40,000 per week should you wish to use it (of course you will). It can fit up to 3 people and dive down to 1000 meters, so you’ll be sure to see some amazing marine life if you decide to take it for a spin.

Builder: Admiral Yachts Length: 50m Number of guests: 12

OURANOS is the first of the Admiral C Force series. It’s ideal if you are looking for a family vessel to charter. On board is an expansive list of toys, including water skis, a slide and a water park! Not forgetting the all-important mini Superyacht submarine (which is ideal for shallow exploring.)

The yacht itself is also a sight to behold with floor to ceiling windows in both the saloon and upper saloon. The ceilings are upholstered in ivory suede throughout.  This not only completes the cosy and luxurious look, but is also incredibly soundproof. Down below there is beach club – very important when considering all those water toys you’ll be off enjoying.

Builder: IHC Verschure (Refit Icon Yachts) Length: 77.4m Number of guests: 26

If you are a real explorer then you’ve probably already come across LEGEND. A former Soviet icebreaker, this boat is really something special. Her owner, Jan Verkerk, himself is a lover of adventure! So, it’s no surprise that no expense had been spared to ensure you’ll have the time of your life on board.

Down in the tender garage, along with two snowmobiles(!), you’ll find the three-person U-Boat Worx C-Explorer Superyacht submarine. Two guests, along with a pilot can enjoy up to seven 45 minute trips a day reaching depths of 300 meters. There’s so many different ways to engage with the natural world via various modes of transport onboard M/Y LEGEND. You’ll probably find that the submarine will just be one of many of the toys you’ll be using… And, if you are angling for a wintery escape, surely those snowmobiles are calling your name already?

For the latest Superyacht news, click here. 

Zoe Alexander

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The superyacht world is speculating that Mark Zuckerberg just bought this 118-meter boat

• The 118-meter superyacht Launchpad made her maiden voyage last week.
• The yacht world is speculating that her owner is Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
• Here's what we know about the luxury vessel.

In the world of superyachts , privacy is the most valuable asset. It can be next to impossible to discern the details of a superyacht transaction — and that's particularly true if the vessel in question is worth nine figures.

Yet some in the boat blogging world are speculating that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the new owner of Launchpad, a megayacht currently moored in Fort Lauderdale, Florida after she made her maiden voyage from Gibraltar to St Maarten last week. Launchpad clocks in at 118 meters long, about nine meters shorter than Jeff Bezos' superyacht Koru .

The transaction could not be confirmed, with yacht world insiders declining to share what they know and representatives for Zuckerberg not responding to a request for comment from Business Insider. In the past, reports about Zuckerberg owning superyacht Ulysses have proven false.

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"It is Feadship's standard policy to never divulge any information about our yachts with reference to ownership, costs, or delivery, etc," Feadship, the ship's builder, wrote to BI. "Whether it is an 18-meter Feadship from the 1960s or a 118-meter Feadship from the 21st century, we do not share private information."

But Zuckerberg's name has been connected to Launchpad for a few months now, beginning in December when reports swirled that he visited Feadship's shipyard in the Netherlands.

Then, earlier in March, yachting bloggers like eSysman SuperYachts and Autoevolution started speculating that he officially snagged the boat, originally built for a sanctioned Russian businessman, at a $300 million price tag. (While that's a seemingly huge amount, it's still less than 0.2% of Zuckerberg's $177 billion net worth.)

Another clue that might point to US ownership is that the yacht bears the flag of the Marshall Islands, a US territory and commonplace for American buyers to register their ships, according to public marine tracking.

If Zuckerberg were to have bought Launchpad, he would join a cohort of superyacht-owning tech billionaires . Along with Bezos, the likes of Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison and Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have purchased impressive boats with even more impressive amenities.

SuperYacht Times , an industry publication and intelligence platform, has some of the best images of the yacht. Photos show a swimming pool on her main deck and a large helipad.

While less is known of the interior, a vessel of her size can likely sleep dozens of guests and crew and may have amenities like an expansive gym where Zuckerberg could practice his jiu-jitsu or a spa with a massage area. We suspect there's also space for plenty of toys — which could include his viral hydrofoil foil .

Do you have any details about Launchpad or any other superyachts? Email reporter Madeline Berg at [email protected].

Watch: Walmart heiress' superyacht vandalized by activists in Ibiza

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Paul Alexander lived in an iron lung for more than 70 years. Here's how he spent his life

Paul Alexander, a polio survivor who became known as "the man in the iron lung" died on Monday, aged 78.

He contracted polio as a boy, leaving him paralysed from the neck down.

Unable to breathe on his own, Paul was placed in a metal cylinder known as an iron lung, where he would spend the the majority of his life.

He would later go on to earn two university degrees, practice law for 30 years, write a memoir and, in the last few months of his life, become a social media star on TikTok. 

Here's a look back at his extraordinary life. 

Caught up in an outbreak of largely forgotten disease

Paul contracted polio when he was six years old.

Polio — short for poliomyelitis — is a virus that has been eradicated in many countries, with Australia officially declared polio-free in 2000.

More than 20 years on, the disease is relatively unknown to younger generations.

But in 1952 when Paul contracted the virus, the US was in the midst of its worst polio outbreak in history.

The World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show more than 3,000 people died from polio in the US the same year Paul caught the disease.

Polio is a highly contagious viral infection that invades the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system.

One in 200 polio infections leads to permanent paralysis, the WHO says. 

Of those, it's estimated 10 to 15 per cent die when their breathing muscles become immobilised.

Paul could have been one of them. 

But when his condition deteriorated, a doctor performed a tracheotomy — when a slit is cut in a patients' neck to allow for breathing tube to go in — to save his life.

He was put into a negative-pressure ventilator — better known as an iron lung — to keep him breathing. 

Not only was he paralysed from the neck down but the tracheostomy meant he was unable to speak. 

The tracheostomy was temporary but Paul has relied on a machine to breathe for him ever since.

He holds the Guinness World Record for the longest period for a person to make daily use of an iron lung. 

What is an iron lung? How does it work?

An iron lung is a breathing machine, which has since been replaced by modern ventilators. 

It's a long, air-tight metal chamber, which a patient lies inside with only their head poking out. 

With a few windows on the side to people to care for the patient inside without opening the sealed chamber, it looks a bit like a submarine. 

Air was pumped in and out it, which changed the air pressure inside. 

The changes in air pressure forced air in and out of the patient's lungs in a process called external negative pressure ventilation,  the UK's Science Museum website says . 

When air was sucked out, the patient's lungs would automatically expand with air — effectively breathing in. 

Then air was blown in, the pressure would cause the lungs to deflate — breathing out.

"The rhythmic ‘whoosh’ of air from the iron lung became the reassuring sound of patients breathing," the museum says.

These machines were typically only used by a patient for a few weeks or months until they could gradually recover. 

But fortunately they were built to last because some patients — like Paul — depended on them for decades. 

Could he leave the iron lung?

While Mr Alexander spent much of his time in the mechanical respirator, he was not completely confined to it.

In his early years, he learned a technique called 'glossopharyngeal breathing', otherwise known as 'frog breathing'.

It was a technique that required Mr Alexander to gulp air into the lungs using his lips, tongue and throat as the main pump.

This gulping action looks like a frog gulping, hence the nickname.

To motivate him, he was promised a puppy if he managed to frog breathe for three minutes. 

That's where he got the name for his memoir  Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung. 

It took him a year to master this skill, he wrote. 

And after three years of practice, he was able to leave the iron lung for a few hours at a time in a wheelchair.

He became a lawyer

At 21, Mr Alexander became the first person to graduate from a Dallas high school without ever physically attending a class.

He graduated with almost straight A's.

After repeated rejections for two years, he eventually was offered a place at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and later, went to law school at the University of Texas at Austin.

In a video on his TikTok account, which he set up in January this year, Mr Alexander explained how he managed to make it through such an intense area of study.

"I was confronted by a couple of problems that turned out to be major problems, and that was I can't write," he said.

"That means I can't take notes.

"And I couldn't record, cause it takes way too long to listen when you're getting ready for your exam.

"So right off I had to decide how to handle all of the work and the information which is massive.

"What I did was I got my mind ready, I listened very carefully, and remembered what I heard.

"That was a lot of concentration, but yet I found it to be the most effective and rewarding process amongst all of them."

When the time came to take the exam to be admitted as a lawyer, he wasn't able to use his iron lung.

So he "frog breathed" his way through the gruelling exam in his wheelchair.

Mr Alexander explained that this was "the least laborious" of all the "dreadful" options he had to sit the test.  

He passed the exam and went on to become a lawyer in Dallas and Fort Worth.

He would represent his clients in court in a modified wheelchair that held his paralysed body upright.

Then he'd return to the machine. 

He ended up working as a lawyer for 30 years.

"You can't believe how many people walked into my law office and saw my iron lung and said: 'what is that?'," he told the Guardian in 2020 . 

He wrote a memoir with his mouth

It took five years for Mr Alexander to write his 155-page memoir.

"I wrote the book with my mouth and a pencil typing away at a computer," Mr Alexander said on TikTok.

"It was the first book I've ever written and it was kind of a major thing in my life.

"The incredible part of doing it was that it took off all over the world, all the way from Russia, Belize, and Europe, and now millions of people know my name today."

Why did he stay in the iron lung?

Iron lungs are a rarity in 2024.

The ventilators most commonly used today are much more compact machines which typically sit by a patient's bed and can be wheeled around. 

While they don't encase a patient, they can be quite invasive.

"Artificial or mechanical ventilation involves sedating a patient, placing a tube into their airway, and using a mechanical ventilator to push air in and out of their lungs," Melissa Preissner and Stephen Dubsky explained in an article for Monash University . 

Generally, this is a temporary measure. 

A more permanent option allowed a patient to be conscious, however, it required the breathing tube to inserted via a hole in their neck. 

But this technology wasn't available when Paul was young. 

And by the time newer machines were developed, he'd grown accustomed to his "old iron horse".

The breathing technique he mastered allowed him to spend part of his day outside the iron lung, he said. 

Paul "never wanted a hole in his throat again", according to The Guardian. 

However, in his last few years, he had been almost permanently confined to the machine.

"As he got older he had more difficulties in breathing outside the lung for periods of time so he really just retired back to the lung," longtime friend Daniel Spinks said.

While there have been countless medical advancements in the decades since his diagnosis, there's still no cure for polio. 

But thanks to intensive global vaccination campaigns, the disease has been largely kept at bay for decades.

This was a cause Paul championed and still spruiked online in his final months. 

He became a TikTok star in his 70s

Paul only began posting videos on TikTok this year.

He tagged himself as "Polio Paul" and called his account "ironlungman".

In less than three months, his account amassed nearly 400,000 followers. 

And even after his death, his videos continue to reach millions. 

As of Friday evening, his videos had attracted more than 6 million likes. 

Remembered as a 'bright star'

Paul's brother Philip Alexander said he was someone who "commanded a room" in a statement posted to social media. 

"It was an honour to be part of someone's life who was admired as he was," he wrote.

"He touched and inspired millions of people and that is no exaggeration.

"He loved good food, wine, women, long conversations, learning, and laughing."

Mr Spinks said Paul's positivity had a profound effect on those around him.

"Being around Paul was an enlightenment in so many ways," he said.

"He was just one of the bright stars of this world."

Fans also took to social media to express their condolences.

"Forever rest easy Paul Alexander, you were the most inspirational person I have had the enjoyment of following forever fly high," one TikTok user wrote.

"You were extremely inspirational and you honestly helped me change my perspective on life, you really will be missed," another said.

• X (formerly Twitter)

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