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 hiccuped about 430 million times during the hiccup attack.
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.
