‘I just want to die,’ says the Indonesian man who claims to be a record 145 years old
AN INDONESIAN man who claims to be the longest living person in recorded history has described how he “just wants to die.”
Mbah Gotho, from Sragen in central Java, a great-great-grandfather, was born on December 31, 1870, according to the date of birth on his identity card.
Now officials at the country’s local record office say they have finally been able to confirm the date is genuine.
If independently confirmed, the findings would make Mr Gotho a stag- gering 145 years old.
But despite his longevity, he says he has little wish to remain on this earth much longer.
“What I want is to die. My grandchildren are all independent,” he told local media this week. Mr Gotho has outlived all 10 of his siblings, four wives and even his children. His nearest living relations are grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
One of his grandsons said his grandfather has been preparing for his death since he was 122. He has even bought a burial site close to the graves of his children.
“The gravestone there was made in 1992. That was 24 years ago,” Mr Gotho’s grandson said.
Members of the family said that Mr Gotho now spends most of his time sit- ting and listening to the radio because his eyesight is too poor to watch television.
He has had to be spoon-fed and bathed for the past three months after becoming increasingly frail.
When asked what his secret to longevity is, he replied: “The recipe is just patience.”
While record office staff say they have confirmed the birth date on his identity card, he will not make it into the record books until the findings are independently verified.
The current record holder, Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who lived in Arles, died in 1997 at the age of 122.
Others without verifiable records who have purportedly lived longer include “171-year-old” James Olofintuyi, from Nigeria, and “163-year-old” Dhaqabo Ebba, from Ethiopia.