Angus Barbieri, born 1938-1939, was a Scottish man known for the longest time spent fasting. He fasted for 382 days, consuming water, vitamins, electrolytes, yeast extract, tea, coffee and sparkling water.
Before he started the fast, Barbieri weighed 207 kg. He often needed assistance with daily tasks. When he came to view the 1960–61 British Home Championship in April 1961, he could not fit through the entrances, so several policemen had to specially escort him from a different entrance.
In 1965, Barbieri checked into Maryfield Hospital in Dundee, Scotland. He had planned a short fast. To avoid temptation, Barbieri quit his job at his parents’ fish and chip shop. As the fast progressed, he lost every desire to eat food, and eventually decided to continue his fast because “he adapted so well.”
Barbieri mostly lived at home, but went to the hospital for blood and urine samples. Stool tests were not taken, but he went up to 48 days without stools. On July 1, 1966, Barbieri ended his fast. However, doctors placed him on a light diet for about a week as a transition to solid food. In this 10-day period, Barbieri began adding salt, sugar and small quantities of milk into his diet.
After 382 days of fasting and 10 days of transitioning, on July 10, 1966, Barbieri weighed 82 kg, 125 kg less than his previous weight. At around 10 AM that day, Barbieri ate his first solid meal. It consisted of a boiled egg, a slice of toast with butter, and a cup of coffee. He told newspaper reporters that he had forgotten what food tasted like, and that he was rather full, but thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
Barbieri celebrated his fast with a three-week vacation to Spain. Eventually, his weight rose to 89 kg, which was still considered a healthy weight. Studies about him showed that “prolonged fasting in this patient had no ill-effects.” Barbieri moved to Warwick, England, married and had two sons. He worked as an office manager. In September 1990, at age 51, Barbieri fell ill and quickly died afterwards.
Angus Barbieri before and after his fast.
