11 days awake - but is it record? (original) (raw)
A man who attempted to set a new record for staying awake claimed victory yesterday in a Penzance bar where his 11-day ordeal took place.
Tony Wright, a horticulturalist and amateur sleep researcher, ended his record attempt after 266 hours at the Studio Bar in west Cornwall, beating a previous record set 43 years ago by American student Randy Gardner by two hours.
"I feel pretty good but a bit shaky," he told reporters shortly after 6am yesterday. "I do not feel tired yet, but there is a bit of adrenaline pumping around at the moment."
But Mr Wright's celebrations were tainted after the Guinness Book of Records claimed a Finn called Toimi Soini went without sleep for 276 hours in February 1964. The record was removed from the book after 1989, following concerns from medical experts over the dangers of forcing the body to go without sleep.
Mr Wright relied on chatting, playing pool and a diet of raw food, including fruit, seeds and nuts, to fight off sleep.