>On September 30th, 1999, in an act that would later be described

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>On September 30th, 1999, in an act that would later be described as "elementary-school stupidity", Hisashi Ouchi poured several gallons of high-purity enriched uranium oxide in to a stainless steel bucket containing uranyl nitrate. Ouchi immediately saw a flash of blue light emanating from the container. It was the most beautiful and also the most terrifying thing he had ever seen.
>Ouchi immediately felt nauseous. He vomited in to the tank and lost consciousness in a matter of seconds. His co-worker Masato Shinohara managed to run three paces before losing consciousness as alarms at the Tokaimura nuclear facility sounded.
>When doctors received the two patients in Tokyo they were not yet aware of the extent of damage incurred. A look at Ouchi's chromosomes revealed that they had been shattered like glass. Doctors knew they had no chance to save his life, but were not aware of the horror that was about to ensue.
>The white blood cell count of both patients was zero. Their skin began to slough off of their bodies. No amount of painkillers could give relief to these men who hold the world record for the longest survival rate of anyone afflicted with acute radiation poisoning.
>Both patients soon lost their ability to speak, and were asked to communicate in writing with doctors. As their physical deterioration began to accelerate, so did their mental state. On the verge of death, one of the final statements written by Masato Shinohara: "Mommy, please"
>Ouchi's intestines began to melt, so doctors put a camera in his rectum to monitor their condition. His muscular tissue broke down to the point where it began to slide off of his bones. He died 82 days after exposure of multiple organ failure in a condition that can be described as "skeletonized".
>How these individuals managed to survive for months in their condition is a modern medical mystery.