Body Worlds creator Gunther von Hagens dies at 81
German anatomist Gunther von Hagens, creator of the "Body Worlds" exhibitions and pioneer of plastination, has died at the age of 81 following a long illness with Parkinson's disease.
Gunther von Hagens, the German doctor and creator of the globally renowned "Body Worlds" exhibitions, has died at the age of 81, according to announcements from his family and close associates. Von Hagens had suffered from Parkinson's disease for several years.
In the late 1970s at Heidelberg University, von Hagens invented plastination, a technique replacing body fluids and fat with synthetic resins to preserve human corpses and organs. His exhibitions attracted millions of visitors worldwide while sparking widespread debate regarding the ethical boundaries of displaying deceased human bodies.
In accordance with his long-stated personal wishes, his family confirmed that his own body will undergo plastination.
Sources: Sweden Herald, ORF.