Inventor of Plastination Dr. Gunther von Hagens Dies at 81

Dr. Gunther von Hagens was a German anatomist, inventor of plastination, and creator of the Body Worlds exhibitions. He died on 24 July 2026 at the age of 81 in Heidelberg, Germany, after a cerebral haemorrhage on 23 July 2026.

Gunther von Hagens and plastination

Gunther von Hagens invented plastination in 1977. Plastination is a preservation technique in which body fluids are replaced with liquid plastic, and the method is used in anatomy for long-term specimen preservation.

Body Worlds exhibitions

The Body Worlds exhibitions began in Japan in 1995. These exhibitions display preserved human bodies and have been visited by more than 58 million people worldwide.

Parkinson’s disease and later life

Gunther von Hagens was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2008. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, speech, and motor control.

Important Facts for Exams

• Plastination was invented in 1977 by Gunther von Hagens.
• The Plastinarium was founded by Gunther von Hagens in Guben, Germany, in 2006.
• Body Worlds first opened in Japan in 1995.
• Gunther von Hagens died in Heidelberg, Germany, at the age of 81.

Legacy and institutional links

The Institute for Plastination announced his death on 27 July 2026. His family said that his body would be plastinated after death, which was his long-held wish.