A former farmer from Puerto Rico has set the Guinness World Record as the oldest living man just weeks before his 113th birthday.
Emilio Flores Márquez, 112, was born on August 8, 1908, in the municipality of Carolina and is the second-oldest of 11 children.
Since he was a young boy, Emilio helped his dad on their sugarcane farm and was in charge of carrying out household chores.
He also cared for his nine siblings as he was the oldest boy in the family, according to a news release from Guinness World Records.
Mr Márquez said: “I was the oldest of the children, so I did everything. I scrubbed, I took care of the boys, I did everything.”
(Image: Guinness World Record)
When he became an adult, he continued farming which eventually became the way he supported his family.
Emilio was married for 75 years to the love of his life, Andrea Perez, who passed away in 2010.
The couple had four children – two of whom are still alive – and he now has five grandchildren as well as five great-grandchildren.
He lives in the city of Rio Piedras where his children Tirsa and “Millito” take care of him.
(Image: Guinness World Record)
When he was 101, he underwent an operation to get a pacemaker and now, 11 years later, he has lost almost all his hearing but is otherwise healthy.
Emilio set the Guinness World Record at the age of 112 years and 326 days as of Wednesday last week.
A photo of him holding his record certificate with his children next to him has been shared online.
In just one month, Emilio will celebrate his 113th birthday.
(Image: Guinness World Records HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
The elderly man – affectionately known as “Don Millo” – believes that love and a lack of anger are essential to live a long life.
The previous oldest living man was recognised as Romania’s Dumitru Comănescu, who died on June 27, 2020, at the age of 111 years and 219 days.
The oldest person to have lived is Jeanne Calment, from France, who was 122 years and 164 days when she died.
(Image: Guinness World Record)
The oldest man to have ever lived is Jiroemon Kimura, from Japan, who passed away at the age of 116 years and 54 days in 2013.
Officially, the oldest woman to have ever lived is Kane Tanaka, also from Japan, whose record was confirmed at the age of 117 years and 41 days in February last year.
She is now 118 years and 184 days and lives in the city of Fukuoka.
(Image: Newsflash)
But last week we reported the story of a Turkish woman who claims to be the oldest person alive.
Seker Arslan was born on June 27, 1902, according to her ID card.
Ten days ago, she celebrated her birthday surrounded by her relatives at her home in the northern city of Amasya, Turkish media reported.
But even though she is 119 as she was born in 1902, her birthday cake had the number 120 on it.
Arslan has six children and 12 grandchildren and reportedly inherited her longevity from her mother, who lived to be 110 years old.
Her daughter, Serap Yueksel, believes her mum has lived for a long time as she always natural food such as butter, honey and cheese.