0:00:02 > 0:00:04# Super, Ultra
0:00:04 > 0:00:05# Powerful
0:00:05 > 0:00:07# Extreme
0:00:07 > 0:00:09# Radical
0:00:09 > 0:00:11# Super Human Challenge
0:00:13 > 0:00:16# S. U. P. E. R. #
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Our quest for superhumans has brought us to Iceland.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26We're right on the edge of the Arctic Circle!
0:00:26 > 0:00:28It's freezing cold here!
0:00:28 > 0:00:35Today, even in the sun, it's still colder than your freezer at home.
0:00:35 > 0:00:40To survive out here, you'd need the power of a superhero.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46A superhero like Iceman, who never feels cold and uses frost
0:00:46 > 0:00:48and ice to defy evil.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53But I've heard of a real-life iceman!
0:00:53 > 0:00:56A man whose body does not feel the cold.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58A man who cannot be frozen!
0:01:03 > 0:01:05This is Wim Hof.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08He discovered his cold conquering superpowers accidentally,
0:01:08 > 0:01:12over 20 years ago, when he saved a man from a frozen lake.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16Since then, he's astounded scientists around the world with
0:01:16 > 0:01:21his ability to withstand extreme cold, doing so in just his pants.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33And this is him! Wim Hof. I'm so excited to meet you.
0:01:33 > 0:01:34- Hi there.- Hi.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38Now, tell me, are you a real life iceman?
0:01:38 > 0:01:41That's what they call me! But I am the Iceman, yes.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Wow! Are you superhuman?
0:01:44 > 0:01:46I'm superhuman because I trained a lot.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Are you up for three tests, where I'll go up against you,
0:01:49 > 0:01:51I'll be like a human guinea pig
0:01:51 > 0:01:54and we'll see what my body does as opposed to what your body does,
0:01:54 > 0:01:56which is maybe a little bit different?
0:01:56 > 0:01:59I'm always up to a new challenge, so let's do it.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05This is Dr Megan John, she is an expedition doctor
0:02:05 > 0:02:09and has kept people alive in some of the most dangerous environments.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14She's devised three supertests to discover how Tim
0:02:14 > 0:02:16and Wim's bodies react differently.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22So, Dr Megan, I thought we'd be filming up there
0:02:22 > 0:02:29in the mountains with the ice, but you've brought us here to the docks.
0:02:29 > 0:02:30Why are we here?
0:02:30 > 0:02:32For this first experiment,
0:02:32 > 0:02:34I need to be able to control the conditions.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37I've chilled one of these containers to -10 degrees Celsius,
0:02:37 > 0:02:39I'm going to put the two of you in it,
0:02:39 > 0:02:42close the door and see what happens.
0:02:42 > 0:02:43-10!
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Dr Megan will be testing who can stand
0:02:48 > 0:02:51freezing temperatures for the longest.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54This container is about 12 degrees colder than your fridge at home
0:02:54 > 0:02:58and as the test goes on, it will get as cold as a freezer.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01This test is being supervised by medical professionals
0:03:01 > 0:03:04and you should never try anything like this at home.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06It's extremely dangerous.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11This is my control centre for today. I've got some great equipment.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Firstly, thermal imaging camera.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16It's going to give me some pictures of how the two of your bodies
0:03:16 > 0:03:18are losing heat from the outside.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Thermal cameras turn heat rays into different colours.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25The white areas are the hottest, red is warm, yellow is cold
0:03:25 > 0:03:27and blue is the coldest.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Wow! Cool!
0:03:29 > 0:03:32In order for it to be scientifically accurate,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35I need you to do it in your underpants.
0:03:35 > 0:03:36In my pants?
0:03:36 > 0:03:37Yep, in your pants.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41In addition, I want your core body temperature,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44so that's the temperature on the inside of your body.
0:03:44 > 0:03:45How do you manage that?
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Two choices. Either we could put a thermometer up your bottoms...
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Oh, no, don't do that.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54But I've decided we'll go a bit high tech today so I've got these
0:03:54 > 0:03:57core body transmitters, which I'd like you to swallow.
0:03:57 > 0:03:58So how does that work?
0:03:58 > 0:04:01It transmits the temperature to you on the outside?
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Exactly, I've got a reader here.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11That really is not nice. Don't try anything like this at home.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13So, chamber set for -10?
0:04:15 > 0:04:18OK, boys, kits off, ready to go!
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Let's go!
0:04:20 > 0:04:22-10 in my pants.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27The normal human temperature is 37 degrees Celsius.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31If your body gets colder than that you get goosebumps
0:04:31 > 0:04:32and start to shiver.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35If you drop to 35 degrees, you are dangerously cold
0:04:35 > 0:04:38and we call this hypothermia.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42You start to move slowly, your fingers, toes and lips go blue.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Soon, you need to wee.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Then your brain becomes confused.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Eventually, your kidneys, liver, lungs and heart
0:04:49 > 0:04:52may shut down and you could die.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59If at any point I think your health is in danger,
0:04:59 > 0:05:01I'm going to pull you out.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06Three. Two. One. Head in.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11It really is quite cold.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14So already they'll be going into feeling a little bit shocked
0:05:14 > 0:05:16first of all.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21Dr Megan has given them a few simple games to play, but not for fun.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24- Snowball?- Exactly right! A snowball.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Being dangerously cold affects the brain as well as the body,
0:05:28 > 0:05:32so if Tim and Wim become confused playing these games,
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Dr Megan will know it's time to get them out!
0:05:36 > 0:05:39I don't know if you can see this on the TimCam
0:05:39 > 0:05:42but my skin's gone all goose bumps. I've got a lot of goosebumps here.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47Goosebumps are made when small muscles in your skin tighten up,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49making your hairs stand on end.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54This is because thousands of years ago, people were a lot hairier,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57so when their hair stood on end, it trapped the heat next
0:05:57 > 0:06:02to their skin, keeping them warm, a bit like wearing a jumper.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06And after ten minutes, Tim's body is covered in goosebumps,
0:06:06 > 0:06:08but Wim doesn't have any.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12This is a thing that swims through really cold water. Like you.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Wim just looks completely comfortable,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17like he's sat in his living room watching the telly.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21- A seal.- A seal! That's right, he knows that, there we go.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Oh, wow! OK, let's keep going.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Tim really is starting to feel the cold now.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29He's shivering, he's rubbing all his muscles together.
0:06:29 > 0:06:30He's what we call tremulous,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33so very, very light little shakes all over his body.
0:06:33 > 0:06:3615 minutes in and the temperature in the cold room has
0:06:36 > 0:06:40gone down to -11.5 degrees.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Oh, wow. Got a lot of goosebumps now.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47And slightly shivering.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Everything in Tim's body right now
0:06:49 > 0:06:51is trying to launch an attack on the cold.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55His body is saying, "I don't like this, get me out of it."
0:06:55 > 0:06:59Wim is not shivering, he's not moving, he's not confused.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02He's not really doing any of the things
0:07:02 > 0:07:04I would expect a normal human to do.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08I seem to have a pain in my back. Not on my back, but inside.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11He's just done something really classic, rubbing the area
0:07:11 > 0:07:14on his lower back, which is where the kidneys are.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17As you get really cold, you end up getting to the point
0:07:17 > 0:07:18where you wet yourself.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23In freezing cold like this, your heart has to work much harder
0:07:23 > 0:07:26to pump blood around your body.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Now, to make it easier, your body gets
0:07:29 > 0:07:33rid of things in your blood that it doesn't need, like excess water.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Now, your kidneys do this.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39There are two of them. They're about the size of a mobile phone.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43The unwanted water in your blood turns into wee.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47All this extra work your kidneys are doing makes them really ache.
0:07:49 > 0:07:5425 minutes into the test and it's -12 degrees!
0:07:54 > 0:07:57It's so cold that Tim's heart can not provide enough warm blood
0:07:57 > 0:07:59to his whole body.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Most of his blood is being sent to his important inner organs.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07So the outer parts of his body aren't getting much blood at all.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10My knuckles have gone slightly blue here.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Yeah, the knuckles have gone blue.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14In fact, my hand's gone blue.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Wim, how you feeling? You shivering a bit with the goosebumps?
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Yeah.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Even Wim has started to get goosebumps now.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24I don't have to pull him out just yet.
0:08:24 > 0:08:29So after 28 minutes and with the cold room at -12 degrees,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31goosebumps have appeared on Wim.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33This is a whole 23 minutes,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36and 2 degrees colder than when they appeared on Tim.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Tim, how are you feeling?
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Freezing cold, Dr Megan.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Tim's brain is now so cold
0:08:44 > 0:08:47he is losing the ability to think properly.
0:08:47 > 0:08:48What have you done?
0:08:48 > 0:08:51It's a definite sign of hypothermia.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53INDISTINCT CHAT
0:08:57 > 0:08:58Why did you do that?
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Checking their core body temperatures.
0:09:01 > 0:09:02So it's 643.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07The average human body temperature is 37 degrees,
0:09:07 > 0:09:11and after over 30 minutes with the temperature lower than -12 degrees,
0:09:11 > 0:09:16Wim's core temperature has dropped by only half a degree.
0:09:16 > 0:09:17Mine...
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Tim, tell me how you're feeling.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Very cold now. Very, very cold indeed.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27I'm down just below 35.
0:09:27 > 0:09:32Tim's body temperature has dropped by more than 2 degrees, this means
0:09:32 > 0:09:36it's now under 35 degrees and he's starting to suffer from hypothermia.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39His body can't take much more.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Honestly, I'm probably going to pull him quite soon.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Cos he's in pain everywhere.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Come on, people, I can do this.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52OK, so Tim is now in so much pain, I don't think it's safe for him
0:09:52 > 0:09:55to continue any more, so I want him out.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57Boys, can you get him out?
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Tim, Tim, you need to get out now.
0:10:00 > 0:10:07- Get out.- I shall finish this in the warmth. Ah!
0:10:07 > 0:10:11It's too dangerous for Tim to carry on. He's turning blue and there's
0:10:11 > 0:10:15so little blood going to his arms and legs that he can't even walk.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17Can we get him in the hot bath now?
0:10:17 > 0:10:22After 37 minutes and 13 seconds in this freezing room,
0:10:22 > 0:10:27Tim stumbles into the recovery bath, he's in pain and he's very confused.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30It's on fire! Like internally on fire, guys.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34- That's a bit of fun, isn't it? - This is a lukewarm bath.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37- It's not as warm as you'd have at home.- It's really, really hot!
0:10:37 > 0:10:41But unbelievably, Wim is still in the cold room.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43And now he's doing yoga?!
0:10:43 > 0:10:46So, clearly, Wim, having already been in there for the ten minutes
0:10:46 > 0:10:49it's taken to get Tim out of there and into the bath,
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Wim is stood up, holding himself.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54I think the experiment has reached its conclusion,
0:10:54 > 0:10:56which is that Wim has some super powers,
0:10:56 > 0:10:59which Tim, a normal human being, does not have.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01So I'd like to call an end to the experiment
0:11:01 > 0:11:03and get Wim out of there too.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07Wim still has an ordinary body temperature of 36.5 degrees
0:11:07 > 0:11:12after 40 minutes of extraordinarily freezing cold!
0:11:12 > 0:11:15You see how perfectly you walked out, Wim. How are you feeling?
0:11:15 > 0:11:19- OK.- You've got ice cubes around your beard.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22So how is Wim able to do this?
0:11:22 > 0:11:25It seems he can control his body temperature.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Now, there is a part of your brain called the hypothalamus
0:11:28 > 0:11:32and its job is to keep your body at 37 degrees.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34It's about the size of a peanut.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36Your hypothalamus works automatically.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39You cannot control it or override it.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43What's amazing is that Wim can control his hypothalamus
0:11:43 > 0:11:46and can make himself hotter if he wants to.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48So before he went into the tank,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51he turned his temperature up to 39 degrees.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58We're here on the Vatnajokull Glacier.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02The ice can get as much as 1,000 metres thick.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06And it gets cold, very, very cold!
0:12:06 > 0:12:11But luckily, people are amazingly, fantastically adaptable.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Especially the Kallallit people from Greenland.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17They have more blood cells than people from warmer areas,
0:12:17 > 0:12:21which generates more heat, and their bodies are small and bulky,
0:12:21 > 0:12:25which is the best shape to protect you from the cold.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28They eat loads of fat, from food like seal blubber,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32which their bodies then burn, to create heat and keep them warm.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43In supertest two, Dr Megan is testing Wim
0:12:43 > 0:12:46and Tim's ability to stay warm whilst exercising in the cold.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50She has marked out a course on the largest ice cap in Europe
0:12:50 > 0:12:53and she wants to see who can run for the longest.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56The weather changes in an instant here, from sunlight to blizzards,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59but it's always very cold.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01OK, so this is the course?
0:13:01 > 0:13:04Yep, I've marked out a 1 kilometre course with these flags and I'd
0:13:04 > 0:13:08like the two of you to try and do it in just your shorts, barefoot.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12- Barefoot?- Barefoot. - I'm absolutely loving this.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14I might get frostbite, this is seriously cold.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17That is a danger here today, which is why I'll be monitoring
0:13:17 > 0:13:21your core body temperature, your heart rate, talking to you and I've
0:13:21 > 0:13:24brought a safety vehicle here with me, with a search and rescue team.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26OK, I feel a bit reassured now.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30Everybody's body is different but an average, fit adult would normally
0:13:30 > 0:13:35have a heart rate during exercise of around 120 beats per minute.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38But running in the freezing cold puts extra stress on your body.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43You're more likely to damage a muscle.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46With no shoes, you could freeze your toes and get frostbite.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48You use up oxygen much more quickly,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50and could become confused, or even faint.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Your heart beats faster
0:13:52 > 0:13:55and if you reach your maximum heart rate, you could collapse.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59In extreme cases, you could have a heart attack and you could die.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03You seem really relaxed about this. You're ready to go.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06What have you done? What's the secret?
0:14:06 > 0:14:09I trained a lot and to connect the mind with the body.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11And how do you do that?
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Sort of a meditation, going deeper within yourself
0:14:14 > 0:14:19and reawaken the natural ability to cope with cold.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22So do you think that before we do the test you could teach me that,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24at least a little bit?
0:14:24 > 0:14:27I will give the principles, but you've got to build the house.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29OK. Let's try it.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Meditation is a way of focusing your mind
0:14:33 > 0:14:37by using special breathing and concentration.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Make yourself as light as possible.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42You need to try and reconnect with your body.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45You should only try meditating if you're with an expert
0:14:45 > 0:14:48and Wim has trained for over 20 years.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Totally in. Totally out. Once again. Totally in. Totally out.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Our thermal camera image shows that
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Wim's body temperature is beginning to rise.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00And the same thing is happening to Tim.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04It's really interesting to see that despite the fact
0:15:04 > 0:15:07that it's 0 degrees, Tim's starting to sweat
0:15:08 > 0:15:13Tim's core body temperature, which started at 37 degrees, is going up.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17So fascinatingly, he's gone up by nearly a degree, to 38.18.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19What's your heart rate doing at the moment?
0:15:19 > 0:15:21Still running at around 72.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25So you've brought it down a little bit from before.
0:15:25 > 0:15:31OK, so 41.47. So whenever you're ready, Wim. 62.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33They're ready to go.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37Are you good? Let's do this now.
0:15:37 > 0:15:38Let's go.
0:15:40 > 0:15:45Normally, Tim's heart rate when he's running is 121 beats per minute,
0:15:45 > 0:15:49but in these freezing conditions, it's beating a lot faster.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53Heart rate is now at 167.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56Wim, can you let me know your heart rate?
0:15:56 > 0:15:5782.
0:15:57 > 0:16:0182. So we've got a heart rate of 82. Tim's is nearly double.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Blood carries oxygen and sugars round the body.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10When you exercise, you use more oxygen and sugar
0:16:10 > 0:16:12so your heart needs to pump faster.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16Now, when you're cold, your body needs more oxygen and sugar too.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19That also makes your heart pump faster.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22So when you run in the freezing cold, your heart has to pump
0:16:22 > 0:16:26extremely hard to keep you moving and keep you warm.
0:16:28 > 0:16:33Running on the ice in the coldest glacier in Europe.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35It's the 250 metre mark.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37We've gone past the first flag.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Tim is starting to struggle
0:16:39 > 0:16:43but Wim is fine, he's conserving his energy and pacing himself.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46Wim's heart rate is going at 82 beats per minute,
0:16:46 > 0:16:48a very normal response to exercise.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Tim's heart's under an awful lot of pressure.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Coming down the hill now. Down the hill.
0:16:55 > 0:16:56Tim, what's your heart rate now?
0:16:56 > 0:16:58Heart rate is up at 178.
0:16:58 > 0:17:0184.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Wim's heart rate is incredibly low at only 84 beats per minute,
0:17:05 > 0:17:10ut Tim's is now 178. This is dangerously fast.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13This is getting touch and go as to whether I can let them
0:17:13 > 0:17:15go on any more. Boys, if you could just stop
0:17:15 > 0:17:19so I can check your core body temperature before you carry on.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21HE PANTS
0:17:22 > 0:17:24I want you to look at my feet.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28In extreme cold, your body must keep your vital organs warm
0:17:28 > 0:17:30to keep you alive.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33This means that your body concentrates on getting
0:17:33 > 0:17:35nice warm blood to these bits.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Other less important bits, like your fingers and toes,
0:17:38 > 0:17:39they get less blood.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43With less blood keeping them warm, these bits start to feel numb,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45then they start to freeze.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48The skin on them blisters turns black.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Eventually, they can die and drop off.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57Tim's numb feet are an early warning sign of frostbite.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00So you're going, you're still going at 37.5.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06This is extraordinary. I did not think this would be possible at all.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08I'm amazed that he's carried this far
0:18:08 > 0:18:11but I'm starting to get very worried about Tim's general health.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13His heart rate is going nearly three times
0:18:13 > 0:18:15what I would be comfortable with.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18They've passed the 750 metre mark.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Tim is uncoordinated, confused and his heart rate is critically high,
0:18:22 > 0:18:26while Wim's body condition, well, it's has hardly changed at all.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28Now, I think, interestingly,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31purposability determination's kicked in.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33One of the signs of hypothermia is confusion
0:18:33 > 0:18:36and Tim is starting to exhibit a little bit of confusion.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38He thinks he can manage more than he can.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41What normally happens with people when they get very cold
0:18:41 > 0:18:43is the thing they die of is doing more than they should
0:18:43 > 0:18:46because they start to get fighty and aggressive.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49But this is absolutely more than I ever hoped or dreamed of
0:18:49 > 0:18:53being able to do. In bare feet. Across a glacier.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Can I have your heart rates now?
0:18:55 > 0:18:57- It's now at 184.- 92.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02Wow. Coming up to 1,000 metres Wim's heart rate is unbelievably low.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05But Tim's has now moved into a critical state,
0:19:05 > 0:19:09his heart really can't take much more of this.
0:19:09 > 0:19:14I'm using every single molecule of energy to make it to those flags.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17I've got pain in my feet.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Tim, I don't think it's safe for you to continue.
0:19:22 > 0:19:23HE PANTS
0:19:26 > 0:19:29Tim's finished the race, but in doing so
0:19:29 > 0:19:31has put himself in serious danger.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35Dr Megan and the team have to cover him in insulating materials to
0:19:35 > 0:19:39keep him warm as blood starts to return to his outer body.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42I'm trying to keep his head lower than his heart
0:19:42 > 0:19:44so that the blood supply gets back to his heart.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47I'm trying to feed him some sugar, cos you get a rapid reduction
0:19:47 > 0:19:49in sugar when you do so much exercise.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52The rest of me feels OK, it's just the feet.
0:19:52 > 0:19:53I can't move them now.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57It'll be painful for Tim all over, but especially in his feet.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03Tim needs to get off the mountain and into a recovery bath fast!
0:20:03 > 0:20:07But remarkably, Wim is completely fine!
0:20:07 > 0:20:09So right now, do you feel in control of your heart rate?
0:20:09 > 0:20:12- Yeah.- In control of your body temperature?- Yes.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15- You don't feel unwell in any way? - No.- You don't feel sick?
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- No.- No pain anywhere in your body?- Nothing.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Remarkable. Quite remarkable.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23OK. We've just come off the mountain now.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Dr Megan's looked at my feet and it seems I might have frostbite
0:20:26 > 0:20:28so they're taking me back to the hotel
0:20:28 > 0:20:31to get some sort of warming bath on them.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35It'll be painful, but my feet will return to normal.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39Sometimes the human body has an amazing ability to recover.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43In 1999, Swedish Skier Anne Bagenholm fell
0:20:43 > 0:20:47headfirst into a frozen water and was trapped under the ice.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Luckily, she found an air pocket and was able to breath but eventually
0:20:51 > 0:20:56she got so cold, extreme hypothermia actually stopped her heart!
0:20:56 > 0:20:58When she was cut out of the ice,
0:20:58 > 0:21:02Anne's heart had stopped for 80 minutes.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Her body temperature was so cold that she should have been dead.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10Amazingly, as Anne's body slowly warmed up,
0:21:10 > 0:21:11signs of life began to show.
0:21:11 > 0:21:16And incredibly, ten days later, she was brought fully back to life.
0:21:16 > 0:21:21Anne now works as a doctor in the hospital that saved her life.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33In the third and final supertest, Dr Megan wants to see
0:21:33 > 0:21:35how their bodies react in cold water.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40She's set up a 300 metre swim in a freezing Arctic lake.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45This swim is so dangerous, we have a specialist safety crew on standby.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49Wim, with his extraordinary super powers, tells me that he
0:21:49 > 0:21:53can swim in his swimming trunks for approximately ten minutes.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56- In your trunks?- Don't be mistaken, it needs a lot of trainings.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00Otherwise, hypothermia's a real threat to the health.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02I'd imagine it's a fatal threat to the health.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04So we have to do this controlled,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07but then this experiment is an adventure.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09And we're thinking you'll give that a go as well
0:22:09 > 0:22:11so we can test your body.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14I'm going to try the swimming in my shorts with the icebergs?
0:22:14 > 0:22:18- Tim, I will make sure you don't come to any harm.- That's reassuring.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20And I am there too. I am the Iceman.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23You're the Iceman, that's right, you are.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26And I'm a man who needs to get into some swimming trunks.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Freezing cold water is extremely dangerous because
0:22:29 > 0:22:33it takes away heat from your body 15 times quicker than air.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37When swimming in icy water, your muscles get cold so quickly
0:22:37 > 0:22:40that they stop working, which means you can't swim,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42which means you can drown.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46The freezing temperature can also cause your body to go into shock.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48And you could suffer a heart attack and die.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51This is incredibly dangerous.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54If you do have a glacial lagoon in your back garden,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56do not try this at home.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00And even if you haven't, don't try this in any freezing water.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03- OK, shall we do this?- Yes.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- Good luck, Tim. - Right, I'm going to try my best.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09It's got icebergs in!
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Oh, that's cold. That's really quite cold!
0:23:19 > 0:23:23- Tell me what your heart rate's doing, Tim.- 110.- And Wim?
0:23:23 > 0:23:26- 72.- 72? Brilliant. Well done.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30- Good grief, that's cold! - How are your feet feeling, Tim?
0:23:30 > 0:23:35They're very, very cold. Very cold. I've got goosebumps.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Gosh, this is cold! This is really cold.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43You're already starting to show a lot of stress from the cold.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46- I'm really shivering below more than above.- More than above?
0:23:46 > 0:23:49There's a lot of pain in my ankles and my knees.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Do you feel able to take another step?
0:23:52 > 0:23:54I could probably take one more.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01OK, tell me what your heart rate's doing now.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05- It's gone up. It's up at 114.- And Wim?
0:24:05 > 0:24:09- 62.- OK, Tim, I think this is getting potentially
0:24:09 > 0:24:13a little bit too dangerous. Putting too much strain on your heart.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15- Can you come on out and get in the bath now?- Yeah.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Yeah, I'm coming.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26That was really cold.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28What's really strange is,
0:24:28 > 0:24:30I completely lost the feeling in my feet.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33To swim safely in freezing water,
0:24:33 > 0:24:38you'd need a specialised semi-dry wet suit made from 7mm thick rubber.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Tim may not be superhuman but at least he has a cool suit!
0:24:44 > 0:24:48Wim, let's do this! Let me just get this right.
0:24:48 > 0:24:53Even in the super suit, there are still some risks?
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Yes, this is still potentially very dangerous.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00- OK, boys, off you go. - Good luck, Wim.- Good luck.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Wow.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Wim is going in fast.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08- Are you ready?- I'm totally ready.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12I'm going "Wimming". This is swimming with Wim.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15It's the moment of truth, Wim is going to attempt
0:25:15 > 0:25:19a 300 metre swim in freezing cold water.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22A normal human being could suffer deadly body shock
0:25:22 > 0:25:23in water this cold.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Wim should not be able to submerge his body in this
0:25:26 > 0:25:29without seriously risking his health.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32I can't believe what Wim is doing.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36He's rewriting all the text books. It's truly amazing.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40Wim is looking entirely comfortable,
0:25:40 > 0:25:42as if he was swimming in his local swimming pool.
0:25:44 > 0:25:45How are you feeling, Wim?
0:25:45 > 0:25:49OK. In control. It's beautiful!
0:25:49 > 0:25:54He's not really displaying any signs of being incredibly cold.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57This is just remarkable. We've got an iceberg right behind Wim.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01Wim, how are you feeling?
0:26:01 > 0:26:03- I feel great.- You feel great?- Yeah.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Boys, you're now halfway. five minutes in.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09You're feeling absolutely fine?
0:26:09 > 0:26:11- I'm totally OK. - You genuinely feel OK?
0:26:11 > 0:26:12Yeah, really.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14In this freezing cold water,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17I would expect to be pulling him out because his heart had
0:26:17 > 0:26:20gone into such funny rhythms that we were at risk of him dying.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23When you know how to deal with the cold,
0:26:23 > 0:26:26the cold will make you stronger. That's it.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Boys, can you start coming back towards me?
0:26:28 > 0:26:30We're eight minutes in now.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32I can still feel how cold the water is,
0:26:32 > 0:26:34- even when it comes into the wet suit. - OK.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36- It's quite amazing. - Cold is a force.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40There's no possibility that he should still be swimming, chatting.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42It's remarkable.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46After ten minutes, Wim Hof has achieved the impossible.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49He's survived a swim in a freezing glacial lake
0:26:49 > 0:26:51that should be fatal to any normal human being.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Look at this.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57You've got goosebumps though. You do have goosebumps!
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Oh, no. You don't have goosebumps.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04That was extraordinary.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Well done.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08INDISTINCT CHAT
0:27:08 > 0:27:10OK, you've seen it here.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15We've been out in a glacial lagoon in just above freezing temperature.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17I've had to put on this unbelievable wet suit
0:27:17 > 0:27:19to try and get out there with Wim.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Wim has been out just in his swimming trunks and he shows no visible
0:27:23 > 0:27:27signs of cold, no visible signs of any medical problem at all.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29This is absolutely extraordinary.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33I came to Iceland to find a superhero.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37A real life Iceman, a man who doesn't feel the cold.
0:27:37 > 0:27:42I found one. Wim Hof, you are superhuman!
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd