A PERUVIAN farmer has claimed he is the REAL world’s oldest man just days after Brit grandad John Tinniswood was awarded the title.
Supercentenarian, Marcelino Abad Tolentino, says he is 13 years older than John and claimed to have recently celebrated his 124th birthday.
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John became the record holder following the death of Venezuelan national Juan Vicente Pérez, 114, last week.
But the Peruvian government have burst his bubble as they are now making a claim on behalf of Marcelino who says he was born in 1900.
The old man, known to locals as ‘Mashico’ reportedly celebrated his birthday on 5 April.
He was treated to a special cake and gifts at the care home in Cochachinche, where he now lives.
Marcelino – who from from the central region of Huanuco – lived off the grid until the government identified him in 2019 and provided him with ID and a pension.
Marcelino Abad Tolentino – or ‘Mashico’ – developed a healthy way of life and inner peace
Peruvian government statement
He said the secret to his ripe old age is eating a healthy diet, rich in fruits and lamb meat.
And Marcelino also likes to chew on coca leaves, a tradition among communities in the Andes.
He was orphaned when he was seven years old and never went to school.
He lived in rural areas and quickly learned “how to take advantage of the benefits of nature”, according to a Peruvian government statement.
It added: “Among the tranquillity of the flora and fauna of Huanuco, Marcelino Abad Tolentino – or ‘Mashico’ – developed a healthy way of life and inner peace, reflected in his good health and friendly personality.
“This allowed him, with resilience and skill, to overcome 12 decades of life and on 5 April he blew out 124 candles.”
The authorities are helping Tolentino apply for the Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest man meaning he could knock John off the podium.
The organisation is currently looking into the bid.
If confirmed, Tolentino could also be crowned the oldest person ever, which currently stands at 122.
Life Events
Someone born in 1900 would have witnessed many events we read about in the history books – here’s some of them.
1904 – Roosevelt becomes president
1906 – Mount Vesuvius erupts, killing more than 100 people
1912 – Titanic sinks
1914 to 1918 – WW1
1918 – 1920 – Spanish flu outbreak
1939 – 1945 WW2
2001 – September 11 terror attacks
2004 – Indian Ocean tsunami – 230,000 people died
2019 – Covid- 19 pandemic
2022 – Queen Elizabeth II died
Great grandad, John, who lives in a care home in Southport, Merseyside, puts his long life down to fish and chips on a Friday and doing “everything in moderation”.
John was born in 1912 – the same year the Titanic made its ill-fated maiden voyage – and has lived through two world wars, as well as the pandemic.
He even met the late Queen Elizabeth on two occasions and was presented with a birthday card from King Charles and Queen Camilla on his last birthday.
The oldest living woman is Spaniard Maria Branyas Morera at 117 years of age.
Born on 4 March 1907 in San Francisco, the grandmother has lived her life since she was eight in Spain’s Catalonia – and has been in the same nursing home for the past 23 years.
World’s Oldest Ever people
THE world’s oldest ever people are all women and are from different places across the globe.
- Jeanne Calment France 122 years 164 days died 1997
- Kane Tanaka 119 107 days Japan died 2022
- Sarah Knauss USA 119 97 days died 1999
- Lucile Randon France 118 340 days died January 2023
- Nabi Tajima Japan 117 280 days died 2018
- Marie-Louise Meilleur Canada 117 230 days died 1998
- Violet Brown Jamaica 117 189 days died 2017
- Emma Morano Italy 117 137 days died 1899
- Chiyo Miyako Japan 117 81 days died July 2018
- Delphia Welford USA 117 66 days died 1992
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