A horror accident at a Japanese nuclear plant exposed one worker to the highest levels of radiation ever suffered by a human being.
Hisashi Ouchi was helping a colleague pour litres of uranium into a vat at the Tokaimura Nuclear Power Plant, having been asked to try and speed up the process to cut costs in 1999.
Normally done by a hydraulic pump, the use of their bare hands exposed the three men in the room to usually fatal radiation levels.
READ MORE: OnlyFans star tells 'disturbed' model pal 'enjoy the smell' after selling 'fart jars'
Almost immediately, Ouchi, who had received the highest level of radiation poisoning of the three, was in agony and could barely breathe.
He arrived at hospital having vomited violently and lost consciousness with doctor's stunned to find that he had almost no white blood cells left.
The radiation burns covered his entire body, and his eyes were leaking blood.
It was from then that the torment of thirty-five-year-old Ouchi began, with doctors effectively experimenting with medical science to keep him alive against his will.
Ouchi was found to have absorbed 17 Sieverts of radiation, an amount never before or since inflicted on a human.
Even the emergency responders at Chernobyl, many of whom died, were exposed to just 0.25 Sieverts.
Once in hospital, doctors worked to keep him alive via blood transfusions and stem cell grafts.
The operations were a medical success, and kept him alive, but for Ouchi it was torture.
Russia could nuke UK with 'unstoppable' torpedo causing 500m radioactive tsunami
He reportedly continued to shout: "I can't take it any more! I am not a guinea pig!"
On his 59th day in hospital, Ouchi suffered three cardiac arrests, but each time doctors were able to revive him at the request of his family.
After 83 days of unspeakable agony, Ouchi's body gave out and he died of multiple organ failure, bringing to an end a heinous display of the power of medicine.
The technicians' supervisor, Yutaka Yokokawa, also received treatment, but was released after three months with minor radiation sickness.
He was later charged with negligence in October 2000.
Nuclear fuel company JCO went on to pay later pay out $121million (£98.3m) to settle 6,875 compensation claims from people and businesses who had been exposed to high levels of radiation from the accident, bringing to an end a grim chapter in modern Japanese history.
To get more stories from the Daily Star delivered straight to your inbox sign up to one of our free newsletters here.
READ NEXT:
- World's richest dog worth £65m lives in Madonna's mansion and 'has secrets'
- OnlyFans teacher sacked for racy school pic hoped fans 'don't mind hairy pits' in TikTok
- Double amputee shot to death by police after he tries to flee on his stumps
- Woman sues golf club after members 'offered £243 to show breasts and sent sex toys ads'
- Parents of mum who vanished share last conversation as they fear 'someone has got her'
Source: Read Full Article
