World’s ‘oldest man’ dies at the age of 146

A man who claimed to be the world’s oldest person has died at the age of 146, it is claimed.

Mbah Gotho, from Indonesia, was said to have documentation showing he was born in 1870.

A heavy smoker, Sodimedjo – as he was also known – was taken to hospital last month for an undisclosed health complaint.

He discharged himself six days later and ate only porridge until he died a few days later, his grandson Suyanto told the BBC.

“Since he came back from the hospital, he only ate spoonfuls of porridge and drank very little,” the relative said.

However, doubts have been raised about his claim as Indonesia did not begin to record new births until 1900.

Mr Gotho’s claim to be the world’s oldest human hit the headlines last summer when officials at the local record office in his home town of Sragen, Central Java, said they had been able to verify his age.

He told reporters at the time that he began preparing for his death in 1992, including having a gravestone made: “What I want is to die.”

He outlived all 10 of his siblings, his four wives and his children.

Mr Ghoto was buried yesterday morning in a plot he bought several years ago and using the pre-prepared gravestone, his grandson said.

“He didn’t ask much. Before he died, he just wanted us, his family, to let him go,” Suyanto said.