June Middleton

June Margaret Middleton (4 May 1926 – 30 October 2009) was an Australian polio survivor who spent more than 60 years living in an iron lung for treatment of the disease.^[1] In 2006, Guinness World Records recognised her as the person who had spent the longest amount of time living in an iron lung.^[1] This record has since been surpassed by American lawyer Paul Alexander^[2] and Martha Lillard.^[3]

June Middleton
Born	June Margaret Middleton (1926-05-04)4 May 1926 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died	30 October 2009(2009-10-30) (aged 83) Thornbury, Victoria, Australia
Known for	Formerly longest time in an iron lung

Biography

Middleton was born in Melbourne on 4 May 1926, the only daughter of Robert and Lucy Middleton. She contracted polio when she was 22,^[1] just months before her planned wedding.^[4] She entered the iron lung on 5 April 1949, and remained dependent on the machine for the rest of her life.^[1] Middleton spent up to 21 hours a day in the iron lung to help her breathe.^[5] Her husband-to-be stayed with her for five years before eventually marrying another woman and starting a family.^[6]

Middleton lived at Fairfield Hospital in Melbourne for more than 40 years.^[4] She was then transferred to Austin Hospital before moving to her own home in Thornbury, which was managed by the Yooralla Ventilator Accommodation Support Service.

A campaigner for the rights of people confined to ventilators,^[4] Middleton was also a fan of the Carlton Football Club.^[4]

On 5 April 2009, Middleton marked her 60th year in the iron lung^[1] with friends and her dog Angel at her side.

She died in Thornbury, Victoria, on 29 October 2009, aged 83.