Can you live after being buried alive?

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

It is possible, but extremely rare, for someone to survive after being buried alive. Factors like the depth of burial, airflow, and time underground impact chances of survival. Medical care immediately after rescue is also critical. Overall, being buried alive should be avoided at all costs due to the immense psychological trauma and physical risks involved.

How Long Can You Survive Buried Alive?

The amount of time someone can survive after being buried alive depends on several factors:

Depth of burial – The deeper someone is buried, the lower the oxygen supply and the higher the risk of suffocation.

Airflow – Some airflow from the surface increases chances of survival vs. being in an airtight space.
Health – Age, medical conditions, and overall health impact resilience.
Psychological state – Staying calm consumes less oxygen than panicking.

In exceptional cases, people have survived being buried for several days or longer:

In 2015, a man in Mumbai survived being buried for 68 hours under 12 feet of debris after a building collapse.
In 2010, a man in Haiti survived for 10 days buried in earthquake rubble before being rescued.

In 2005, a man in China survived buried for 6 days after being caught in a landslide.

However, most people will die of suffocation within an hour if buried shallowly, and within minutes if buried deeper than 6 feet underground. Time is critical for rescue.

What Are the Chances of Being Rescued?

Statistics on rescue rates after being buried alive are limited, but the chance of being found in time is extremely slim:

Only a tiny fraction of confirmed buried alive cases end in live rescue.
Being buried in an unknown location makes rescue nearly impossible.
Some survivors credit luck or seeming improbabilities for their rescue.

While technology like search dogs, probing cameras, and seismic sensors can help, locating and digging up a buried person quickly enough for survival is very rare.

If buried in an accessible spot, survival chances improve but most people still suffocate or die of injuries before being found. Waiting for rescue should not be counted on.

Can You Dig Yourself Out If Buried?

Trying to dig out from under burial is extremely difficult, but not necessarily impossible:

The depth makes progress slow and oxygen can run out quickly.
Being buried under loose soil is more survivable than compacted or rocky ground.
Any headspace, air pocket, or tunnel to the surface extends survival time.

Tools like a flashlight or shovel can aid digging out if available when buried.

Some survivors attribute their escape to superhuman willpower and focus on digging upward. But progress is painfully slow. One story tells of a man buried in a swallow grave who took 2 days to dig 7 inches and reach the surface alive.

While movement is restricted, carefully digging with hands or feet maximizes air and extends time for potential rescue. But chances of fully digging out remain very low.

How to Survive if You Are Buried Alive

If suddenly buried, staying calm and buying time for possible rescue are the keys to survival:

Control breathing to use less air. Take slow, shallow breaths.
Avoid yelling or wasting energy on fruitless exertion.

Use available space to move extremities and circulate blood flow.
If any airflow exists, try positioning mouth near the source.
If possible, slowly dig upward, feeling for openings and shiftable soil.

Stay hydrated by sucking on damp clothing.
Use a flashlight to check for openings and monitor available air.

Mental focus is just as important. Will to live, positive thinking, and waiting patiently for any chance of rescue can extend survival. Having an object like a loved one’s photo can also help maintain hope. While a traumatic position, staying calm improves odds of coming out alive.

How Does Being Buried Alive Kill You?

There are several dangerous effects that can kill someone who is buried alive:

Suffocation – Lack of oxygen is the quickest killer underground.
Toxic Gases – Carbon dioxide and methane buildup can poison the limited air.

Dehydration – Lack of water causes organ failure over time.
Starvation – Energy loss leads to shock.
Infections – Open wounds from pressure and gas gangrene can spread.

Blood Clots – Restricted circulation increases risk of clots.
Crush Injuries – Pressure from soil weight can fracture bones and crush organs.
Bleeding – Internal and external bleeding can be fatal.

Panic – Extreme fear speeds oxygen consumption.
Despair – Loss of hope worsens other dangers.

The exact cause depends on factors like depth buried and ground composition. But suffocation due to lack of air is the fastest and most common way being buried leads to death.

What to Do if You Become Trapped Underground

If you become trapped in a tunnel collapse, cave-in, or other underground space, follow these tips to improve survival odds before rescue:

Quickly check for dangers like gas leaks, flooding, or electrical wires.
Administer first aid for any injuries.

Find the safest, most stable spot. Lie flat if possible.
Conserve phone or flashlight battery.
Signal rescuers with noise at regular intervals if possible.

Stay still to preserve air and reduce injuries.
Stay hydrated by rationing water supply.
Practice breathing control and meditation to stay calm.

Never give up hope of being rescued.

With smart resource use, medical self-care, and a disciplined mental approach, survival time underground can be extended. But professional rescue should be sought fast, as most become critical within 3 days without air and water.

Psychological Trauma of Being Buried Alive

Beyond the physical dangers, being buried alive can produce lasting psychological trauma:

Post-traumatic stress disorder
Claustrophobia
Insomnia

Severe anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks

The experience of nearly suffocating while immobilized often leads to chronic fear of enclosed spaces, nightmares, and flashbacks. Counseling and therapy are recommended following rescue to help cope with the emotional scars.

Some survivors refuse to enter tunnels or windowless rooms again. Fear of premature burial is also common. The psychological impacts should not be underestimated.

Famous Cases of People Buried Alive

There are many disturbing historic reports of premature burial:

In the 1850s, an exhumed coffin was found with scratch marks on the inside from the victim’s attempted escape.
During the 17th century, French philosopher Rene Descartes was terrified of being buried alive. After his death, his coffin reportedly had a tube installed for air and an escape route.
In the late 19th century, patents were filed for “safety coffins” with breathing tubes and escape hatches if the occupant revived underground.

Writer Edgar Allan Poe often referenced early burial in his work. His short stories documenting confined protagonists may have been based on a personal phobia.

While most of these cases are unverified, the prevalent fear of accidental live burial led to the custom of “waking” the dead for days before burial to check for signs of life. This fear persists today.

Can You Legally Be Buried Alive?

Deliberately burying someone alive against their consent is legally murder in most places. However, some exceptions exist:

Burials for spiritual or ceremonial reasons may be allowed in certain cases.
Burial escapes or stunts sometimes use safety measures like air tubes and medical monitoring.
A person may request live burial in a suicide note or will. This is rarely honored due to ethical concerns.

Burial of non-consenting prisoners has reportedly been used as torture or execution in some countries.

Overall, intentional live burial of a non-consenting person almost always constitutes criminal homicide. But in rare cases, exceptions are made for religious, cultural, or personal beliefs. The immense risks make it an intolerable practice for most modern societies.

Famous Intentional Burials

Some daredevils and stunt artists have chosen to be buried alive intending to survive:

In 2005, escape artist David Blaine was buried in a Plexiglas coffin for 7 days, using air tubes and cameras.
In 2003, stuntman and magician David Merlini was buried in an upright unbreakable box for 7 days.
In 1999, endurance artist Eddie Clever was buried for 61 days in a box with a stocked refrigerator and toilet.

In 1993, Rahim Mehrabonlu survived 60 days buried in a glass box 3 meters underground.

These dangerous feats require extensive safety planning to avoid death. The motivations are often publicity, profit, or for the challenge. But the psychological impacts afterwards can be significant, even for voluntary burials. The risks seem to outweigh any possible benefits.

Conclusion

Surviving after being buried alive is extremely unlikely, but imaginable in exceptional cases. Avoiding premature burial through medical screening is critical. Rescue chances are slim, so the focus if buried should be on calming techniques and careful air and energy conservation. Psychological help following rescue is also important to overcome lasting trauma common to live burial victims. Deliberate burials should be prohibited, as the risks of suffocation, injury, and emotional scarring outweigh any perceived benefits. While burial escape stories do exist, prevention is by far the best option.