The tragedy of the death of the tallest man in human history

At 2.72 meters tall, Robert Wadlow was considered the tallest man in human history. But a small injury killed the "Illinois giant" on July 15, 1940 at the age of 22.

Robert Wadlow had an unusual life. Although Wadlow was born like any other child, his body developed completely normally. But then Wadlow's parents noticed that their son began to grow uncontrollably. At the age of 5, Wadlow was already over 1.52 meters tall. By the age of 8, he was taller than his father.

When he died in 1940, Robert Wadlow was the tallest man in the world. (Photo: Getty Images/NYDN Archive)

Wadlow's height attracted attention wherever he went, but it also caused him problems. Not only did he have to spend the modern equivalent of thousands of dollars on oversized shoes, but his growing height also caused him to suffer from a number of painful health problems.

Wadlow weighed 220 kg at the time of his death. His height and weight put a strain on Wadlow's legs, which he suffered from as a child.

From the age of 14, Wadlow had to wear leg braces to support his growing body. At 18, doctors found that he had almost no feeling in his feet. And this was also part of the cause of Wadlow's death.

Here is the full story of Wadlow's death, from the moment the wound was first discovered to his death just days later.

Becoming the tallest man in the world and his health starting to fail

Robert Wadlow at age 10 with his peers. He is now 1.82 metres tall. (Photo: Public Domain).

Born on February 22, 1918, in Alton, Illinois, Robert Pershing Wadlow came into the world weighing a healthy 8 pounds, 1 ounce. His parents and four siblings were all of average height. But Wadlow grew quickly and out of control.

By the age of 5, Wadlow was over 1.52 meters tall. By the age of 8, Wadlow was 1.83 meters tall, and by the age of 13, Wadlow was 2.13 meters tall.

At that time, Wadlow's parents searched for the cause of their son's unusually large height. Doctors diagnosed Wadlow with pituitary hyperplasia at age 12. They explained that Wadlow had abnormally high levels of human growth hormone. Since removing the pituitary gland using medical technology at that time was too dangerous, it also meant that Wadlow would continue to grow uncontrollably.

Growing up, Wadlow suffered from a number of health problems due to his height. According to Guinness World Records, at age 14, Wadlow slipped while playing in the street and broke two bones in his foot. After this incident, doctors required Wadlow to use an ankle brace to support his frame.

Wadlow pictured with his father before 1937. (Photo: Public Domain).

Three years later, the brace caused an infection that put Wadlow in the hospital for eight weeks. Doctors said Wadlow had little feeling in his leg, so he didn't notice the blisters, which later worsened into ulcers.

Despite these problems, Wadlow used his physical advantage as the world's tallest man to build his image.

Wadlow became a spokesman for the International Shoe Company, which supplied him with oversized shoes. Wadlow even agreed to appear in several shows with the Ringling Bros. Circus.

But these appearances required a lot of travel. And Wadlow died on one of these trips in 1940.

Sudden and painful death

Robert Wadlow in Florida, one day after his 22nd birthday. Wadlow died less than six months later. Photo: Vintage_Space/Alamy Stock Photo

In the summer of 1940, Wadlow traveled to Manistee, Michigan, and appeared in the National Forest Festival's Independence Day parade on July 4. But by evening, Wadlow began to feel unwell. He had a fever, and his father left him at a hotel to rest.

According to some sources, Wadlow's fever was caused by a blister on his right ankle. Wadlow was unaware that the blister had developed because of his ill-fitting new brace. Wadlow paid no attention to it because he had no feeling in his foot.

Over the next 11 days, Wadlow's condition worsened. His family was by his side and doctors tried to save him.

Robert Wadlow with his family. (Photo: Flickr).

Wadlow's mother and brother traveled from Illinois to care for him. Doctors working at the hotel—because the local hospital did not have enough beds large enough to admit him—also attempted to treat Wadlow with blood transfusions and emergency surgery.

But it seems that all treatments are ineffective.

By July 14, apparently knowing that death was near, Wadlow left a note around 10:30 p.m. He told family members that he would not be attending his grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary party later that month.

'The doctor said I wouldn't be able to come home for that celebration,' Wadlow said.

Wadlow then fell unconscious. The next morning, July 15, 1940, Wadlow died at the age of 22. The world's tallest man died from a small infected blister.

After Wadlow's death

People in his hometown of Alton erected a statue in memory of Wadlow. (Photo: Flickr).

The people of Alton, Illinois loved Robert Wadlow so much that they brought him back home after his sudden death in Michigan. Robert Streeper, director of the Streeper Funeral Home, personally drove to Manistee to pick up Wadlow's body.

The body of the 'Illinois giant'  was placed in a 11-foot-long custom-made steel coffin. The coffin weighed more than 1,000 pounds and required 10 pallbearers and eight helpers. During the two-day funeral, many people came to the funeral home to pay their respects to Wadlow. Director Streeper later said they had to replace the funeral home's carpet because it was worn out.

Wadlow's funeral took place on July 19, 1940. Businesses were closed, flags were flown at half-mast, and an estimated 33,295 people attended his funeral and mourning procession.

Wadlow was buried in Oakwood Cemetery. Because his family was worried that his grave might be robbed, they placed Wadlow in a concrete-covered grave. His headstone simply reads: 'Rest in Peace.'

At the time of his death, Wadlow was considered the tallest man in the world. Perhaps Wadlow would have continued to grow taller if he had lived.

Since then, no one has surpassed Wadlow's height record, and modern medical technology almost guarantees that no one will ever reach that height. Today, doctors can treat pituitary disorders.

To those who knew him, however, Wadlow was simply a beloved son, brother and friend . The 'Alton Giant' was known for his gentleness, generosity, and simple pleasures - stamp collecting and photography.

And surely Wadlow - who once sued a doctor for diagnosing him as a 'monster' - would want to be remembered that way.