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Horrifying impact staying awake for world record amount of time had on man who did it

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Updated 16:15 30 Apr 2024 GMT+1Published 16:16 30 Apr 2024 GMT+1

Horrifying impact staying awake for world record amount of time had on man who did it

Randy Gardner was just 17 when he took part in the experiment

Lucy Devine

Lucy Devine

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A man who stayed awake for a record breaking number of hours suffered from horrible side effects.

Back in 1963, Randy Gardner - who was just 17 at the time - was trying to think of an idea for his school science fair.

Gardner, along with his friend Bruce McAllister, decided that they would attempt to break the world record for the number of hours a person had stayed awake.

Incredibly, Gardener managed to stay awake for 264 hours, which is the equivalent of 11 days - but it came at a cost.

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Randy Gardner was just 17 when he took part in the experiment. (Don Cravens/Getty Image)
Randy Gardner was just 17 when he took part in the experiment. (Don Cravens/Getty Image)

The study was observed by Stanford sleep researcher Dr William Dement, and US Navy medic Lieutenant Commander, John J. Ross.

It was after the second day of no sleep that the true health impact started to show, with Gardner struggling with speech and other cognitive abilities.

He began stumbling over words and by day three, he reported moodiness, concentration issues and short-term memory loss, as well as paranoia and even hallucinations.

“He was physically very fit,” Dement said. “So we could always get him going by playing basketball or going bowling, things like that. If he closed his eyes he would be immediately asleep.”

Gardner's friend McAllister later told the BBC: "We were idiots, you know young idiots, and I stayed awake with him to monitor him.

"After three night of sleeplessness myself, I woke up tipped against the wall, writing notes on the wall itself."

Once the study was over - and Gardner managed to go a crazy 11 days - the teenager slept for 14 hours.

Brain scans later revealed that Gardner's brain had been 'cat napping' the entire time' meaning parts were asleep while other parts were awake.

Despite having no short-term issues, unfortunately, Gardner went on to have problems with his sleep years later, according to WBUR.

As an adult, Gardner began to experience insomnia and was convinced the experiment was to blame.

"I was awful to be around. Everything upset me," he said.

"It was like a continuation of what I did 50 years ago."

He was left with shocking side effects for years after. (Don Cravens/Getty Image)
He was left with shocking side effects for years after. (Don Cravens/Getty Image)

Gardner's record was later broken, and the current record is help by Robert McDonald, who stayed awake for 453 hours 40 minutes (18 days 21 hours 40

minutes) back in 1986.

The Guinness World Records has now stopped monitoring the record due to 'the inherent dangers associated with sleep deprivation'.

Probably for the best, by the sounds of it.

Featured Image Credit: Don Cravens/Getty Images

Topics: Science, Sleep

Lucy Devine
Lucy Devine

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