Buried alive how long to live

She ordered that the body be removed. When the coffin lid was opened, Essie sat up and smiled at all around her. She lived for another 47 years. Not long after, she was presumed dead. Only 16 hours later, her body was lowered six feet underground. Though no breath was apparent when a lit candle was placed under her nose , distinct rhythmical sounds could be heard in her chest, and she exhibited some muscle contraction and eyelid twitching.

After locating no pulse, the doctors declared Hays dead, and three days later, he was buried. But you might wonder how long you might survive underground before a sorcerer or well-trained paramedic has to raise you from the dead. According to Popular Science , experts provide very different estimates of how long it would take before your burial to become timely. Some say you'd die in 10 minutes while others give you between 6 and 36 hours to live.

Obviously, whether you're buried in a casket makes a significant difference. Inverse writes that someone buried without a barrier between them and the dirt at a depth of six feet will have about pounds of soil on top of them. That crushing weight would compress your chest as dirt fills your mouth and nostrils. Considering that brain damage begins after 10 minutes of oxygen deprivation, you'd probably be a goner in a heartbeat.

By contrast, if you find yourself in a coffin prematurely — as in so prematurely you haven't died yet — you may have several hours to live. Do not breathe and then swallow, which will lead to hyperventilation. Do not light a match or lighter. Combustion will quickly use your available oxygen. It is safe to use a flashlight if you have one. Do not yell. Yelling will lead to panic, which will increase your heart rate and lead to fast breathing that will rapidly consume your air supply.

Assess the quality of the wood before you continue. If you feel flex in the coffin lid, continue to step 3. A metal-clad or hardwood coffin will be impossible to pierce. In this case, your only hope is to signal for rescue. Use a metal object ring, belt buckle, coin, flask, pen to signal that you are alive. Tap SOS, the international distress signal, on the coffin lid: three quick taps, followed by three slower taps, followed by three quick taps. Continue to repeat the distress call until someone hears you.

Your shirt can be used to protect you from suffocating on loose earth. Unfortunately, rearranging your wardrobe in such a small space requires some strategy. Cross your arms over your chest, and then uncross your arms so that your elbows are bent and your hands are at your shoulders.