THE oldest man in the world has died just two months before his 115th birthday.
Juan Vicente Perez Mora managed to survive two World Wars and the gruelling Covid-19 pandemic but tragically “transcended into eternity” last night as tributes flood in for the Venezuelan icon.
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The former farmer was crowned the oldest man alive back in May 2022 when the Guinness Book of World Records (GBWR) recognised his long-standing triumph.
He leaves behind a huge family made up of 11 loving kids, 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
Freddy Bernal, the governor of his home state of Tachira, Venezuela, confirmed his death.
Mr Bernal took to X to say: “Our dear Juan Vicente Perez Mora, today with deep sadness and pain we say goodbye to you, to that archetype of a man from Tachira, humble, hard-working, peaceful, enthusiastic about family and tradition.
“Together with my wife and children we had the pleasure and the pride of meeting him and sharing with his loved ones.”
Juan – born on May 27, 1909 – managed to live through the invention of the TV, the mobile phone and internet.
And he was just 51 when he had his first ever ID picture snapped in black and white.
He also went by the nickname Tio Juan which translates into English as Uncle Juan.
His cause of death is currently unknown.
Juan Vicente Perez Mora has transcended into eternity at 114 years old
Nicolas Maduro
Bernal continued: “My old Don Vicente, we will always remember him for his optimism in life, for faith, hope and that deep love for our state of Tachira.
“He will always be a symbol of goodness, wisdom and joy, which is why his legacy will live forever in our hearts and in our lives.
“Rest in peace my dear old man, my Don Juan Vicente. We will never forget you.”
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro also added: “Juan Vicente Perez Mora has transcended into eternity at 114 years old.
“From the town of El Cobre he gave Venezuela the Guinness Record for being the oldest man in the world.
“I send my hug and condolences to his family and to all the people of El Cobre, Tachira state. May God receive him in his holy glory!”
Juan was married to wife Ediofina del Rosario García for a whopping 60 years before she passed away in 1997.
When he became the world’s oldest man, GBWR published a statement to honour his victory.
They wrote: “Juan Vicente has exceptional health and memory. He remembers his childhood, marriage, the name of his siblings, children and grandchildren.
“He loves to be surrounded by family and friends as they tell stories and engage in good conversation.”
Juan famously once said the key to his never-ending ageing was a glass of Spanish alcohol known as aguardiente every single day.
The oldest things in the world
These people, places and things prove that getting old isn’t always a bad thing.
PEOPLE
Maria Branyas Morera still holds the record of the oldest women currently after she turned 117 on March 4.
Born in San Francisco, the grandmother has lived most of her life in Spain’s Catalonia region and has been in the same nursing home for the past 23 years.
Maria took the honour off a blind French nun called Lucile Randon (pictured) after she died in January 2023.
But the prestigious award of the oldest ever living person goes to Jeanne Louise Calment.
She sensationally lived to be 122 years and 164 days.
Living from 1875 to 1997, Calment is still to this day the only person to have ever lived over 120 years old.
ANIMALS
The world’s oldest living land animal is a friendly Seychelles giant tortoise named Jonathan.
Coming in at 191 Jonathan’s estimated 1832 birth year makes him older than stamps, the telephone, and the photograph.
A cat taken in as a rescue kitten in 1991 is seen as the world’s oldest living feline.
Rosie, a fluffy-tailed tortoise-shell, is due to celebrate her 33rd birthday in June.
COUNTRY
Despite much debate, San Marino is widely considered the world’s oldest country being first founded on September 3, in the year 301BC.
FEMALE BODYBUILDER
At 86 years old Ernestine Shepherd is the oldest female bodybuilder to compete today.
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