The world’s oldest man, a Brazilian supercentenarian, has died at the age of 127, only 7 days short of his 128th birthday. José Paulino Gomes died peacefully at his house in Corrego del Cafe, according to local media in Brazil.
Gomes was still riding horses 4 years ago, according to reports. He leaves behind 7 children, 25 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
Gomes was a former animal tamer who became famous for his humble nature and simplicity. He led a natural life, avoiding industrialized products and preferring items from the countryside. His diet consisted of foods grown or raised locally and enjoyed an occasional drink.
His birth date was August 4, 1895, according to his 1917 marriage certificate from Pedra Bonita’s register office. If his claim about his age is correct, he lived through both World Wars and three global pandemics.
However, while Gomes is regarded as a supercentenarian, there have been contrasting claims in the records. Maria Branyas Morera, 115, of Spain is the current Guinness World Records titleholder. And before that, a Frenchwoman named Jeanne Calment who passed away in 1997 at the age of 122 held the record for the oldest person.
Eliane Ferreira, Jose’s granddaughter, claims that in the countryside, individuals are frequently registered when they are older, resulting in certain kinds of incorrect documentation. ‘She told the local media, ‘he definitely was over 100 years old, at least 110. Now we need to know how it will be recorded on the death certificate.’