The Frozen Man: The Story of James Hiram Bedford
More than 50 years have passed, and the world still wonders whether the dream of reviving a frozen body can ever become a reality. With modern advancements in human science, the question persists: can humanity possess the technology to bring a dead person back to life? Half a century ago, Dr. James Hiram Bedford clung to that hope. Driven by an unyielding desire to live, he became the first person to volunteer for cryonic preservation, entrusting the future to fulfill the promise of his revival in 2017.
Now, three years past that critical milestone, the world looks back on the man who was once a psychology professor, a war veteran, and a globetrotter, wondering what has become of him.
The Life of James Hiram Bedford
James Hiram Bedford was not just a pioneer in cryonics but also a man who lived a remarkable life. As a psychology professor at the University of California and a World War I veteran, Bedford embraced a life of adventure and exploration. Married twice, he traveled extensively, hunting in Africa, trekking through the Amazon rainforest, and visiting countries like Greece, Türkiye, Spain, England, Scotland, Germany, and Switzerland. He even drove the Alcan Highway to northwest Canada and Alaska, cementing his reputation as a man of curiosity and courage.
However, in 1967, Bedford’s adventurous life came to a halt when he was diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer. The cancer had spread to his lungs, and with the limited medical capabilities of the time, his prognosis was grim. Faced with the inevitability of death, Bedford turned to an emerging field of science: cryonics.
The Birth of Cryonics
Bedford’s interest in cryonics was sparked by Dr. Robert Ettinger’s book The Prospect of Immortality. Ettinger, considered the father of cryonics, envisioned a future where individuals could freeze their bodies after death and await the advancements of science to revive them. Bedford decided to take this leap of faith. On January 12, 1967, after his passing, Bedford became the first person to undergo cryonic preservation, under the supervision of Robert Nelson and a team of scientists.
Before his death, Bedford made his intentions clear: “I want you to understand that I did not do this with the thought that I would be revived. I did this in the hope that one day my descendants will benefit from this wonderful scientific solution.” He left more than $100,000 to fund the freezing process, ensuring his body would be preserved in liquid nitrogen at minus 196 degrees Celsius.
The Freezing Process
Bedford’s journey into the unknown began on January 12, 1967. After suffering cardiac arrest at a nursing home at the age of 73, his body underwent an intricate preservation process. Artificial respiration and cardiac massage were used to maintain blood circulation. Subsequently, his blood was drained, and dimethyl sulfoxide was injected to protect his organs. Finally, his body was placed in a liquid nitrogen tank, marking the beginning of an unprecedented experiment.
Checking the Frozen Body
In 1991, after 24 years in cryonic suspension, Bedford’s body was examined by the Alcor Life Extension Foundation. When technicians opened his tank, they found him in a pale blue sleeping bag, secured with a nylon strap. Despite being frozen for decades, Bedford’s body was remarkably well-preserved. His face appeared younger than his 73 years, though there were signs of discoloration and minor damage to his skin. The corneas of his half-open eyes were chalky white from the ice, and there were cracks on the surface of his skin. However, overall, his preservation was deemed a success.
The Alcor team rewrapped Bedford in a new sleeping bag and returned him to his liquid nitrogen tank, where he remains to this day, awaiting the advancements in technology that could bring him back to life.
A Legacy in Cryonics
Now, more than half a century after Bedford’s freezing and three years past the promised date of his revival, he remains a symbol of humanity’s hope and curiosity about the boundaries of life and death. Stored vertically among 145 other cryonically preserved individuals, Bedford’s body waits for the day when science might fulfill the dream of reanimation.
His story is not just about the pursuit of immortality but also a testament to human innovation and the willingness to explore the unknown. Whether or not the future holds the answers that Bedford and countless others have hoped for, his journey into cryonics has left an indelible mark on the history of science and humanity’s quest for eternal life.
