How long would it take to freeze to death?

Question

I am writing a story in which a character has a strange death. How long would it take a teenage boy with a BMI of 14.2 and extremely low body fat, who has had his coat removed and clothing torn, to die of hypothermia in a temperature of 26ºF?

I am writing a story in which a character has a strange death. How long would it take a teenage boy with a BMI of 14.2 and extremely low body fat, who has had his coat removed and clothing torn, to die of hypothermia in a temperature of 26ºF?

*edit* The character is severely anorexic and has just been attacked, hence the torn clothing and emaciated BMI. He is unconscious.

Answer 1

I would give it 3 1/2 hours approxemetly because it wouldn't take long if he is knoked unconsiese?? and anorexic with that low body mass and that low temps I think that he wouldn't actually die of hypothermea I think he would die from the ice crystals forming in his blood stream rupturing his cells finally his brain which would turn to basically mush when unthawed oh and my opinion is freezing is a bad way to go cause if you think about it if all you cells froze and burst from the expanding water sure you would be normal but then when thatwed do you think you would turn to mush??

Answer 2

He would not "freeze" to death. Hypothermia can kill when body temperature drops to 85°F or lower.
There are too many variables here. Is it windy? Will he be exercisng? A BMI of 14.2 is extremely low! Sounds like he would have died of starvation before your story began. I have a BMI of 19 and I can stay out naked at 26°F for hours and hours if I keep active.

Answer 3

Without his coat it would take hours, maybe 7 - 10. He wouldn't last the night.

Answer 4

Depends. Does he have food, is he keeping active. If he's asleep, less than 12 hours should do it.