William Duell

William Duell (born 1724) was a 16-year-old boy who, along with five others, gang raped Sarah Griffin, who later died from her injuries, during a robbery in Acton, London, England.

On 24 November 1740, he was hanged in Tyburn, along with four others, but survived the hanging. His sentence was commuted to transportation to America, where he died at an advanced age following the revolution.

Hanging and revival Duell's body hanged for about 20 minutes before being cut down. It was then brought to the Anatomy Theatre at the Worshipful Company of Barbers and Surgeons to be anatomised for medical training.

Duell was stripped and laid on the board, about to be dissected. However, one of the servants noticed that he had begun breathing slowly. Duell's breath got quicker and quicker; he was then bled, and in two hours, he was able to sit upright. Duell, suffering from a fever and delirium during his trial and execution, had no recollection of the hanging.