Frozen 'dead drunk man’ brought back to life after five hours in -20C

A “clinically dead” man in remote Siberia was brought back to life after spending more than five hours collapsed in sub-zero temperatures. Doctors say the extraordinary case shows how extreme cold can preserve life.

The unnamed man, believed to have been intoxicated after a vodka binge, fell asleep on a bench in Mirny, Yakutia — the world’s coldest inhabited region — as temperatures plunged to around -20°C. He was later found not breathing by passers-by, who called an ambulance. When medics arrived, they recorded no heartbeat, no blood pressure and a “flatline” on an electrocardiogram — all signs of clinical death.

Rather than declaring him dead, doctors at the hospital in Mirny—Russia’s diamond capital, launched a complex resuscitation using a specialised rewarming technique developed for Arctic conditions.

He was rushed to hospital, where anaesthetist Dr Dmitry Bosikov led a meticulous four-hour process to raise his body temperature from 24°C to 34°C.

“The rewarming method is based on gradual thawing, which does not lead to damage of the smallest blood vessels, as damage to the microvascular network can result in heart attacks, cerebral oedema, kidney failure, and death,” said a hospital statement.

It added: “Over the course of 4 hours, the man’s body temperature was raised from 24°C to 34°C. This was a coordinated, painstaking, and technically flawless effort.

“From the moment the temperature reached 34°C, advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated—chest compressions, mechanical ventilation, and administration of drugs to stimulate circulation.

“After 25 minutes of resuscitation, a faint sign of life appeared on the monitor—ventricular fibrillation.”

In total, doctors said “life returned” after five hours and 34 minutes.

There were initial fears of severe organ damage, but after 24 hours in an induced coma, the man regained consciousness.

His kidneys were functioning normally and no major systems had been impaired.

He was discharged just five days later.

Doctors say the case highlights a little-known principle: patients with severe hypothermia can sometimes be revived long after they appear dead.

Extreme cold can slow the body’s demand for oxygen, effectively preserving the brain and vital organs — but only if patients are handled carefully and rewarmed slowly.

The hospital credited the survival to the coordinated response of paramedics and its specialised rewarming protocol.

The man’s identity and age have not been disclosed.