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| Puerto Rico’s Emilio Flores Marquez has become the new Guinness World Records title holder for the oldest living man at 112 years and 326 days old. Source: Guinness World Records |
A former sugar cane farmer in Puerto Rico has been confirmed as the world’s oldest man by Guinness World Records, just a few weeks shy of his 113th birthday, reported CNN.
Emilio Flores Márquez was born on August 8, 1908, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, making him 112 years and 326 days old as of June 30, when Guinness World Records announced the record.
Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, said Flores Márquez was “born, interestingly, on the 8th day of the 8th month in the 8th year of the 20th century!”
Growing up, Márquez, who was the second oldest of 11 children, was in charge of many household chores and helped take care of his younger siblings.
He started working on his father’s sugarcane farm from a very young age and was often responsible for watering, loading the sugarcane onto wagons for transport.
“I was the oldest of the children, so I did everything. I scrubbed, I took care of the boys, I did everything,” Flores Márquez said in a statement.
He continued to dedicate his life to farming, eventually becoming the way he supported his family.
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| Emilio “Don Millo” Flores Márquez was born on Aug. 8, 1908, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Source: Guinness World Records |
Márquez was married to Andrea Perez for 75 years until her death in 2010. The couple had four children. He also has five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, according to Guinness World Records.
He now lives in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, where he received his official Guinness World Records title certificate. His two living children were there to commemorate the lifelong achievement with celebratory photos.
Even though Flores Márquez underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker 11 years ago and has nearly lost all of his hearing, his family says he continues to show strength and good health.
According to Flores Márquez, the key to a long and happy life is to have an abundance of love — as well as avoiding anger and resentment.
“My father raised me with love, loving everyone,” Márquez’s family told Guinness World Records. “He always told me and my siblings to do good, to share everything with others.”
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| Emilio Flores Marquez, center, with his two children, Tirsa and Millito. Source: Guinness World Records |
The previous oldest living man was recognized by Guinness World Records as Romania’s Dumitru Comănescu (b. November 21, 1908). He held the record for less than one month before his passing on June 27, 2020, at the age of 111 years 219 days. Following his passing, Guinness World Records then received evidence in support of Emilio, who was born three months earlier than Dumitru.
The oldest person ever to have lived is Jeanne Calment (France), who lived to be 122 years and 164 days. The oldest man ever is Jiroemon Kimura (Japan), who was born on 19 April 1897 and passed away at the age of 116 years and 54 days on 12 June 2013.
The oldest person living (female) is Kane Tanaka (Japan, b. 2 January 1903). Her record was confirmed at the age of 117 years and 41 days on 12 February 2020.
She is now aged 118 years and lives in Fukuoka, Japan.
