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What happened to the guy that didn't sleep for 11 days?

Author

Emma Payne

Published Jan 06, 2026

Eventually after 264 hours of no sleep, the world record was broken and the experiment was over. Rather than curling up in his own bed to get some much needed rest, Randy was taken off to a naval hospital where his brain waves were monitored.

What happened to the guy that didn't sleep for 11 days?

He had gone 11 days, 264 hours, without drifting off. There was only one way to celebrate. He was whisked off to a naval hospital where researchers attached electrodes to his head to monitor his brain waves, and he went to sleep.

How did Randy Gardner not sleep?

He didn't consume any stimulant drugs to keep himself awake, but did have people around him to distract him from falling asleep. When the experiment ended, Gardner had been awake for 264 hours and 25 minutes. He then had 14 hours of sleep before waking up to use the bathroom.

Did Randy Gardner have hallucinations?

Gardner experienced mood swings, memory and attention lapses, loss of coordination, slurred speech and hallucinations, but was otherwise fine. His first sleep after those 11 days lasted just 14 hours. According to Dement, Gardner did not consume any stimulants during his “wakeathon”.

What happens if you don't sleep for 2 days?

After two days of no sleep, Cralle says, the body begins compensating by shutting down for microsleeps, episodes that last from half a second to half a minute and are usually followed by a period of disorientation.

36 related questions found

What happens if you can't sleep for days?

Lack of sleep can lead to poor cognitive function, increased inflammation, and reduced immune function. If sleep deprivation continues, it may increase your risk for chronic disease.

Did Randy Gardner recover?

Gardner appeared to have fully recovered from his loss of sleep, with follow up sleep recordings taken one, six, and ten weeks after the fact showing no significant differences. Gardner reported experiencing serious insomnia decades after his sleep experiment.

Whats the longest anyone has slept?

In October of 2017, Wyatt Shaw from Kentucky fell asleep for 11 days. He was just seven years old and doctors ran several tests with no conclusive explanations.

How long is too long to sleep?

The “right” amount of sleep proves somewhat individual as some people will feel great on seven hours and others may need a little longer. However, in most studies and for most experts, over nine hours is considered an excessive or long amount of sleep for adults.

What happens if you don't sleep for a month?

Some of the most serious potential problems associated with chronic sleep deprivation are high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure or stroke. Other potential problems include obesity, depression, reduced immune system function and lower sex drive.

What happens if you don't sleep for 24 hours?

The effects of going without sleep for 24 hours can include: drowsiness. irritability. concentration and memory difficulties.

Why does my husband sleep so much?

The most common causes of excessive sleepiness are sleep deprivation and disorders like sleep apnea and insomnia. Depression and other psychiatric problems, certain medications, and medical conditions affecting the brain and body can cause daytime drowsiness as well.

Why did I sleep for 16 hours?

People with hypersomnia might require as many as 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night to feel their best. Since day-to-day life might include responsibilities that don't allow for this much rest, long sleepers may feel excessively tired during the day and catch up on off days, sleeping as much as 15 hours at a time.

Why do I love sleeping so much?

“If you are obsessed with sleeping or have an intense desire to stay in bed, you could be suffering from a condition called clinomania. That doesn't mean that there aren't people who can experience symptoms similar to addiction and even withdrawal in association with sleep, or lack thereof.”

Who slept for 100 years?

Rip Van Winkle, short story by Washington Irving, published in The Sketch Book in 1819–20.

How long is longest kiss?

And it wouldn't be Valentine's Day without a big ol' smooch. The longest kiss lasted 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds, achieved by Ekkachai Tiranarat and Laksana Tiranarat (both Thailand) at an event organized by Ripley's Believe It or Not!

What is the longest phone call in history?

The longest telephone conversation by a team of two lasted 54 hours and 4 minutes and is shared between Kristaps Štãls, who was paired with Patriks Zvaigzne and Leonids Romanovs who was paired with Tatjana Fjodorova (all Latvia). The event took place at the Alfa shopping Centre in Riga, Latvia, from 9-12 March 2012.

Can I stay awake for 30 hours?

The longest recorded time without sleep is approximately 264 hours, or just over 11 consecutive days. Although it's unclear exactly how long humans can survive without sleep, it isn't long before the effects of sleep deprivation start to show. After only three or four nights without sleep, you can start to hallucinate.

Is it okay to sleep for 12 hours?

We often say that people need 7-9 hours of sleep, but some people require more sleep to feel rested. “Long sleepers” are people who regularly sleep more than the average person their age. As adults, their nightly length of sleep tends to be 10 to 12 hours. This sleep is very normal and of a good quality.

Is 4 hours of sleep enough?

For most people, 4 hours of sleep per night isn't enough to wake up feeling rested and mentally alert, no matter how well they sleep. There's a common myth that you can adapt to chronically restricted sleep, but there's no evidence that the body functionally adapts to sleep deprivation.

What does it mean when a girl sleeps a lot?

Hypersomnia can be caused by a lot of different things, including drug and alcohol issues, sleep disorders, or autonomic nervous system issues. Talk with her about seeing a doctor if her sleeping habits are really out of control. If hypersomnia is the issue, there are a few prescription drugs that might help her.

Why do I sleep for so long?

For people who suffer from hypersomnia, oversleeping is actually a medical disorder. The condition causes people to suffer from extreme sleepiness throughout the day, which is not usually relieved by napping. It also causes them to sleep for unusually long periods of time at night.

Is 5 hours of sleep enough?

Sometimes life calls and we don't get enough sleep. But five hours of sleep out of a 24-hour day isn't enough, especially in the long term. According to a 2018 study of more than 10,000 people, the body's ability to function declines if sleep isn't in the seven- to eight-hour range.

Can you stay awake for 36 hours?

WHEN YOU STAY AWAKE FOR 36 HOURS: Longer you stress your mind and body, the worse will be your situation. And not sleeping for 36 hours could further deteriorate the condition. There was a study which showed that 36 hours of sleep deprivation puts pressure not only on the brain but also on the heart.