1st Mummification for 3,000 Years

Alan Billis, a sixty-one year old taxi driver with terminal lung cancer, volunteered to be mummified after the manner of Ancient Egyptians. The taxi driver from Torquay allegedly said his only regret would be that at he wouldn't be around to see the programme, although he hoped it would give his grandchildren an insight into his personality.

I wonder if Mr Billis gave cryonics any consideration? If cryonics works, then he could tell his grandchildren (if they also opted for cryonics) all about himself for himself - and that's assuming cryonics isn't a working reality before Billis's grandchildren require cryo-preservation to make that leap into the future.

A cryo-sceptic would say that's a lot of "ifs", and that is a fair point. However, looked at with a rational mind which makes the most sense - a slim chance of a possibly-eternal life, or no chance at all?

Mummifying Alan: Egypt's Last Secret will be screened on Channel 4 on October 24 at 9pm.

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