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Tony WrightThe Briton Who Hasn't Sleeped for 11 Days
Date of Birth: 01.01.1965
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Tony Wright: The British Insomniac
- Disappointment from Guinness World Records
- Challenges Faced
- Unofficial Record
- Rival from Finland
- Health Risks of Sleep Deprivation
- - Depression
Tony Wright: The British Insomniac
Record BreakerTony Wright, a British man from Cornwall, made headlines in 2007 for breaking the record for staying awake for 11 consecutive days and nights. Wright, who was 42 years old at the time, surpassed the previous record set by American Randy Gardner in 1964, who managed to stay awake for 264 hours.
Disappointment from Guinness World Records
Wright's attempt to break the Guinness World Record, however, was met with disappointment. Guinness had recently discontinued recognizing such achievements due to concerns over the negative effects of prolonged sleep deprivation on human health. Despite his extraordinary feat, Wright did not receive an official certification.
Challenges Faced
Wright's journey of remaining awake was filled with challenges. He relied on copious amounts of tea, billiards, and blogging to keep himself going. Following a raw food diet, Wright surprisingly found that the constant confinement to the same room proved more difficult to endure than the lack of sleep.
Unofficial Record
Despite not being recognized by Guinness, Wright's accomplishment remains an impressive feat. Despite experiencing blurred vision after 70 hours of wakefulness, Wright managed to stay alert and appeared relatively cheerful throughout his ordeal.
Rival from Finland
Wright's disappointment was compounded by learning of Toimi Soini, a Finnish man who had reportedly outstripped his record by 10 hours, staying awake for 276 hours. This news came as a surprise to Wright, as he had been unaware of Soini's previous record.
Health Risks of Sleep Deprivation
Guinness World Records' decision to abandon recognizing records for prolonged wakefulness is not without reason. Sleep deprivation has been linked to a range of negative health consequences, including:
- Depression
- Dizziness- Hallucinations
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Memory loss
