The Worlds Longest Attack of Hiccups

The world's longest attack of hiccups lasted a total of 68 years according to the Guinness Book of Records. Charles Osborne (1894-1991) from Iowa, USA was unable to find a cure for a protracted attack of hiccups that started in 1922 and ended suddenly in February 1990. Mr Osborne died just over a year later in May 1991 having led a normal life, marrying twice and fathering 8 children.

The attack began while Mr Osborne was attempting to weigh a hog before slaughtering it. Over the years Mr Osborne hiccupped up to 40 times a minute, slowing down to 20 a minute in later years. It is estimated that he hiccupped about 430 million times during the hiccup attack.

See Images of Charles Osborne
Mr Charles Osborne - World Record Holder for Longest Attack of Hiccups

Suffering from the world's longest attack of hiccups had compensations for Charles Osborne. The popular board game Trivial Pursuit featured a question about him. His condition also resulted in guest appearances on Ripley's Believe It or Not! in 1936, ABC's That's Incredible! in 1980, and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1983.

Another man Bob Taylor from Tennessee had the hiccups for 27 years. He claimed to have tried many of the traditional remedies for curing hiccups including: standing on his head, drinking water and sugar water, and swallowing a spoonful of mustard but all to no avail. Read more about Bob Taylor

Other Weird and Wacky World Records

World Record Longest Leg Hair
World Record Longest Hot Dog
Longest Photograph in the World
Longest Beard Ever Measured
World's Longest Slinky and Largest Slinky
View other World's Longest Records List

Related Links

What is a Hiccup?
The British Man Hiccuped Non-Stop for 15 Months