YOUTH’S EXPERIMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20221, 3 February 1934, Page 33 (Supplement)

YOUTH’S EXPERIMENT.

“Tried to Find Out What Death Was Like.” Richard Lansbury Harrison, a brilliant youth of seventeen, was found unconscious at his home at Selsdon, Surrey, England, after experimenting on himself with an “ anaesthetic ” in order to find out “ what death was like.” He had tied to his mouth a swab saturated with a cleaning liquid. He died before a doctor could reach him. The boy’s father said to a “ Daily Express ” representative: “My son’s death was entirely accidental. “ Someone had explained the use of anaesthetics to him, and I believe it was his idea to administer an anaesthetic to himself so as to become as near dead as possible in order t 0 find out what happened to people after death, and then to come back to life and describe his experiences. “ When I arrived home on Saturday afternoon, Richard did not appear for tea at the usual time. I went upstairs and called him, but there was no reply. “ On going into his room I found him lying unconscious on his bed. I tried artificial respiration in vain. A doctor who was sent for was too late.”