The name refers tohysteria, anosological category that included bouts ofsuperhuman strength as one of the possible symptoms, but inEurope, this had also been an attribution in previous cases of allegeddemonic possession.[3][4][5]Charcot imputed to the phase of hysterical attacks calledclownism the presence of strength and agility not consistent with the age and sex of the person, which before in the Catholic ritual ofexorcism was attributed to demonic force. Thus, the cause of the phenomenon began at that time to be addressed by the investigation ofinsanity.[5] During that period in the 19th century, the termhysterical strength could also be found in the intersection of such fields, scientific and religious, for instance mentioned by theSociety for Psychical Research regarding a statement given by a physician.[6]
It was also described in reports of trance or possession in several other cultures, as for example in theNew Testament (Mark 5:4) or inshamanic practices.[7][8]
The most commonanecdotal examples based onhearsay are of parents lifting vehicles to rescue their children, and when people are in life-and-death situations. Periods of increased strength are short-lived, usually no longer than a few minutes, and might lead to muscle injuries and exhaustion later. It is not known if there are any reliable examples of thisphenomenon.[citation needed]
Seyit Çabuk, anOttoman Army gunner inWorld War I, became famous for carrying three bombshells that weighed 276 kg (608 lb) to an artillery piece while in battle. Later, he was photographed with the bombshell but could not move it. "If war breaks out again, I'll lift it again," he said.
Tibetanoracles, such as theNechung Kuten or Sungma Balung,[11] are reported to display superhuman strength during possession. Eyewitnesses described the Nechung Oracle wearing a 36 kg (80 lb) or 41 kg (90 lb) headdress, that normally outside the trance could break his neck.[12] The14th Dalai Lama also stated that the oracle could barely walk with the total weight of his 32 kg (70 lb) outfit when not in trance.[13]
Comic book artistJack Kirby claims he was inspired to create theHulk after seeing a woman lift a car to save her baby in 1962.[14][15][16]
In 1982, inLawrenceville,Georgia, Tony Cavallo was repairing a 1,692 kg (3,730 lb) 1964Chevrolet Impala automobile from underneath when the vehicle fell off the jacks on which it was propped, trapping him underneath. Cavallo's mother, Mrs. Angela Cavallo, lifted the car high enough and long enough for two neighbors to replace the jacks and pull Tony from beneath the car.[17]
Shortly after filmingMagnum, P.I., the show's helicopter stunt coordinator crashed aHughes 500D helicopter inWaialua, Hawaii while flying another job. He was pinned in the cockpit as it lay partially submerged in water and was freed when Warren "Tiny" Everal heroically lifted the front of the 640 kg (1,400 lb)[18] chopper, allowing his rescue.[19]
In 2006, 41-year-old Lydia Angiyou fought apolar bear after it threatened her 7-year-old son and his friends as they played hockey inIvujivik,Quebec, physically wrestling the bear until a hunter could return with a rifle. "She saved some kids' lives, I tell you" said the local police captain.[20]
In 2006, inTucson,Arizona, Tom Boyle watched as aChevrolet Camaro hit 18-year-old Kyle Holtrust. The car pinned Holtrust, still alive, underneath. Boyle lifted the Camaro off the teenager, while the driver of the car pulled the teen to safety.[17][21]
In 2009, inOttawa,Kansas, 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in), 84 kg (185 lb) Nick Harris lifted aMercury sedan to help a 6-year-old girl pinned beneath.[22]
In 2009, inNewport, Wales, Donna McNamee, Abigail Sicolo, and Anthony McNamee lifted a 1,150 kg (2,540 lb)Renault Clio off an 8-year-old boy.[23]
In 2011, Danous Estenor, anoffensive lineman onUniversity of South Florida's football team, lifted aCadillac Seville weighing 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) off a tow truck driver who wriggled out from under the rear tire, largely unharmed due to the rapid rescue. He had gotten pinned when the car rolled off his tow truck. Estenor then continued walking to the cafeteria. It did not occur to him to share the story widely and only mentioned it to his roommate and parents. and a flurry of press picked it up well afterwards.[24]
In 2012, inGlen Allen, Virginia, 22-year-old Lauren Kornacki rescued her father, Alec Kornacki, after the jack used to prop up hisBMW automobile slipped, pinning him under it. Lauren lifted the car, then performedCPR on her father and saved his life.[25]
In 2012, inMonroe, Michigan, Austin Smith (age 15) lifted a 1,285 kg (2,833 lb)[26] automobile (a 1991Buick Century) to save his grandfather pinned underneath.[27][28]
In 2013, inOregon, teenage sisters Hannah (age 16) and Haylee (age 14) lifted a 1,400 kg (3,000 lb) tractor to save their father pinned underneath.[29]
In 2014, Bob Renning, a 52-year-old man inNew Brighton, Minnesota rushed to a burningChevrolet Trailblazer on the side of the highway and rescued its frantic driver, who was impossible to see through the smoke. Renning gripped one of the door frames with his fingers and bent it in half to form an exit.[32] He had "no idea" how he did it and was pleased that his grandkids were impressed.
In 2015,St. John's, Newfoundland resident Nick Williams witnessed afour-wheel drive vehicle run over a young boy who had been playing on the sidewalk, pinning the child under a tire.[33] Williams lifted the car off the boy, who did not have serious injuries. Recalling the moment, Williams said: "I couldn't budge it at first, but then I saw the little fellow ... and the bugger came up then."
In 2016,Vienna, Virginia teenager Charlotte Heffelmire lifted a burning truck off her father in her family home's attachedgarage before driving the flaming truck into the yard on three wheels. "I didn't want the house to explode with the truck" she explained. Heffelmire closed the garage door to contain flames, called911, then entered the smoke-filled home to get her family out from the ensuinghouse fire.[34] She later said, "I just did what I had to do, so I don't feel like a big hero or anything."[34]
In 2019 inCleveland, Ohio, 16-year-oldAmerican football player Zac Clark lifted a 1,400 kg (3,000 lb)Volkswagen Passat off his 39-year-old neighbor after hearing a cry for help. Clark said he thought about his deceased father in that moment, and did not want another family to experience such a loss. The teen's football coach was "amazed but not surprised".[37][38]
One proposed explanation isTim Noakes' "central governor" theory, which states that higher instances in thecentral nervous system dynamically and subconsciously control the number of activemotor units in the muscle. Normally, in order to guaranteehomeostasis, the entire motor neural capacity is not activated and, therefore, the total capacity of the muscle during performances outside of an emergency situation remains inaccessible: this would lead to exhaustion of energy resources and even physical injuries. However, in life-threatening situations, it is adaptive for the central governor limits to be removed or modified.[1] People in high loadweightlifting training are able to activate more motor units, which ensures more strength and efficiency in muscle contraction, even though they had the same amount ofmuscle mass compared to people in low load training.[40]
Exercise physiologist Robert Girandola has pointed out that most cars have a 60/40weight distribution, as the engine block puts the center of mass slightly towards the front of the car. In most instances, the individual is lifting one or two wheels of the car from the back. Therefore, they are only actually lifting a small fraction of the vehicle's weight. While the fight or flight response allows for increased lifting capacity, it would be hundreds of pounds rather than thousands.[41][42]
^Hill, Dave (17 July 2003)."Green with anger".The Guardian. London.Archived from the original on 5 May 2013.one of the Hulk comic books' artists, Jack Kirby, has said he was inspired by seeing a woman rescue her child from beneath a trapped car.
^Groth, Gary (February 1990)."Jack Kirby Interview - Part 6".The Comics Journal (134). Interview published online 23 May 2011.KIRBY: The Hulk I created when I saw a woman lift a car. Her baby was caught under the running board of this car. The little child was playing in the gutter and he was crawling from the gutter onto the sidewalk under the running board of this car — he was playing in the gutter. His mother was horrified. She looked from the rear window of the car, and this woman in desperation lifted the rear end of the car.
^Lipstak, Andrew (30 August 2015)."The Incredible Hulk Was Inspired By A Woman Saving Her Baby".Gizmodo.Jack Kirby witnessed a woman lift a car to get her child out from under it. The moment helped inspire one of his most famous creations: the Incredible Hulk.
