Peru claims to have world’s oldest human being, born in 1900

Peru’s Andes may hold the secret to longevity and the world’s oldest man, if a new account by state officials of a 124-year-old man born in 1900 proves true.

The government claims that Marcelino Abad, a local from the Huanuco region in central Peru, is 124 years old, which would make him the oldest living person and even the oldest person ever to have lived. Independently verified by humans.

“In the tranquility of Huanuco’s flora and fauna, Marcelino Abad Tolentino or ‘Maxico’ developed a healthy lifestyle and inner peace,” the government said in a statement. This is reflected in his fitness and friendly nature.”

“This allowed him to use his resilience and skill to get through 12 years of his life, and on April 5, he just blew out 124 candles.”

Peruvian authorities said they were helping Abad apply for independent verification from Guinness World Records.

“In the tranquility of Huanuco’s flora and fauna, Marcelino Abad Tolentino or ‘Maxico’ developed a healthy lifestyle and inner peace,” the government said in a statement. This is reflected in his fitness and friendly nature.”

“This allowed him to use his resilience and skill to get through 12 years of his life, and on April 5, he just blew out 124 candles.”

Peruvian authorities said they were helping Abad apply for independent verification from Guinness World Records.

Abad was born in the small town of Chagla and lived a low-key life until the Peruvian government confirmed his identity in 2019 and provided him with a government ID card and a pension.

Abad, who celebrated his 124th birthday on April 5, said his secret to staying active included a diet rich in fruit and lamb, according to a statement from his pension scheme.

The centenarian also developed the habit of chewing coca leaves, a tradition among Peruvian Andean communities.

Abad now lives in a nursing home, where his birthday this month was celebrated with special celebrations, including a birthday cake bearing his likeness.