Bedford’s life tragically changed in 1967 when he received a kidney cancer diagnosis that was deadly. His lungs were affected by the illness.
There was no remedy at the time due to the lack of medical understanding. However, Bedford discovered promise in cryonics after reading.
Dr. Robert Ettinger’s seminal work, The Prospect of Immortality. a cutting-edge new science that attempts to preserve the body after death in case it is ever revived.
On January 12, 1967, cryonics pioneer Robert Nelson conducted the technique on Bedford, who became the first person to have it done.
Bedford’s blood was drained and refilled with dimethyl sulfoxide to preserve his organs shortly after his death from cardiac arrest at the age of 73.
