Indonesian Man Claims to Be the World’s Oldest Living Person at 145

August 29, 2016

An Indonesian man has reportedly been discovered to be the world’s oldest living person at the age of 145 and claims to have the documentation to prove it.

An Indonesian records office verified that their documents show that Mbah Gotho was born on December 31 1870, and will be turning 146 years old this year, unless his ultimate wish gets fulfilled before his birthday. “What I want is to die,” the centenarian was quoted as saying, according to the Independent.

In fact, he has been looking forward to his death and began preparing for it in 1992 — he even had a gravestone made 24 years ago. He has seen his entire family pass before him: 10 siblings, his four wives and his children. When asked about his secret to long life, he said: “The recipe is just patience”.

Lately however, Gotho has grown increasingly frail and must now be spoon-fed and bathed. With his eyesight significantly deteriorated, he now spends his free time listening to the radio.

If the claims of his old age can be verified by a third party, he would earn the title of the oldest person ever, superseding Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment who died at 122 years old, more than two decades his junior.

Previous claims to the title have been deemed unverifiable, including Nigerian James Olofintuyi, who claimed to be 171, and Dhaqabo Ebba from Ethiopia, who claimed to be 163. Since no verifiable documents have been unearthed or discovered, Calment has retained the spot in the record books.

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