The first-ever footage of a person Liquid nitrogen being
cryonically frozen after death is to be shown on Channel Five (not
Singapore). The 60-minute film Death in the Deep Freeze will follow
a woman who is terminally ill with cancer. It will also show the
'shocking and compelling' invasive procedure used to freeze her,
along with interviews while she is still alive. The process, which
has been performed on about 150 people, involves freezing the body
in the hope that it can one day be brought back to life. Soon after
the person dies, water in the body is replaced with an antifreeze
to stop cells deteriorating. Once the water has been replaced, the
body is cooled using dry ice until it reaches -130?C (-202?F) The
final step is to put the body into a metal container and immerse it
in a tank full of liquid nitrogen. Independent production firm Zig
Zag spent months negotiating to secure access to the procedure.
Executive producer Jes Wilkins said: 'We're really very proud of
what we have achieved with this programme.
The human and emotional journey we captured and the ethical
questions raised makes for one of our most fascinating productions
to date.' The Cryonics Institute in Michigan, where the film was
made, has 70 bodies in liquid nitrogen. Its president Ben Best said
he was happy for viewers to see the procedure. 'I hope this film
opens people's eyes to the benefits of cryonics,' he added.
However, the Linacre Centre of Health Care Ethic, a Catholic
science group, believes it is a waste of time. Member Anthony
McCarthy said: 'This is not a serious medical treatment. I'm
concerned people are spending vast amounts on a procedure where
there is no evidence that it works.' The programme is due to be
shown at the end of the month.
