Indonesia says deceased man was born in December 1870, although his age was never verified

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A man who was heralded as being the world’s longest living human has died at a claimed age of 146.

According to his papers, Indonesian national Sodimedjo, also known as Mbah Ghoto (Grandpa Ghoto), was born in December 1870. He would have been 43 at the start of the first world war and turned 70 during the second world war.

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The heavy smoker, who outlived four wives, died this week in his village in Central Java after being taken to hospital on 12 April with deteriorating health. He insisted on returning home to be with his family and died on Sunday.

Mbah Ghoto was not the recognised longest living human as Indonesia only started recording births in 1900. However, officials told the BBC his residency card, which has his birthdate on it, was valid based on documents and interviews with him.



His grandson Suyanto told the BBC that when he came home, he started to eat less and less.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Mbah Gotho was believed to be the world’s oldest man with documentation that stated that he was born in 1870. Photograph: Ali Lutfi/EPA

“It only lasted a couple of days. From that moment on to his death, he refused to eat and drink,” he added. “He didn’t ask much. Before he died, he just wanted us, his family, to let him go.”



Mbah Ghoto was buried on Monday morning in a local cemetery plot he had bought, which included a gravestone he had procured years before he died.

A former farmer and fisherman, Mbah Ghoto said last year that he lived “a long life because I have people that love me looking after me”. He was a local hero and would recount stories of life under Japanese and Dutch colonisers.

“Life is only a matter of accepting your destiny wholeheartedly. I have wanted to die for a long time,” he told the Jakarta Post last year.

He leaves behind five children, 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

As Mbah Gotho’s age was not independently verified, he does not take the mantle of oldest living human in recorded history from Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 aged 122.

The world’s oldest person alive today is Violet Brown, a 117-year-old Jamaican woman, according to the Gerontology Research Group.</s>'Oldest human' dies in Indonesia 'aged 146' - His documents say Mbah Ghoto was born in 1870 - which would make ... https://t.co/6AUwCb0NVS</s>A man who claimed to be 146 years old and outlived all four of his wives has died in Indonesia.

Saparman Sodimejo, also known as Mbah Ghoto, had an Indonesian ID card that claimed his date of birth was December 31, 1870.

But whether or not he will ever be listed as the world's oldest man is open to question, since the paperwork has so far not been independently verified.

He passed away in his village in the Seragaen district of Central Java, Indonesia and a funeral took place today.

Ghoto was taken to hospital in early April due to deteriorating health but six days later checked himself out and returned home.

His grandson Suyanto told the BBC: 'Since he came back from the hospital, he only ate spoonfuls of porridge and drank very little.

'It only lasted a couple of days. From that moment on to his death, he refused to eat and drink.'

In December, h e celebrated his birthday with his relatives.

Attending his party were his grandson Suryanto and wife Suwarni, with their children Erika Kurniawati and Anisa Kurniawati, among other younger surviving relatives.

Unsurprisingly, he had outlived all 10 of his siblings as well as his four wives, the last of whom died in 1988. All of his children have also died.

If his documents are correct, his age of 146 made him significantly older than the verified oldest person in the world ever, a title that belongs to French woman Jeanne Calment, who lived to be 122.

Suryanto said last year that his grandfather had been preparing for his death ever since he was 122, but it never seemed to come.

He said: 'The gravestone there was made in 1992. That was 24 years ago.'

In addition, Suryanto said Mbah Ghoto's family had already prepared a gravesite for him - near his children's graves.

Staff at the Indonesian records office have confirmed Mbah Gotho's birthdate, which is specified on his Indonesian ID card as 31st December 1870.

Others without verifiable records who are purportedly older than Mbah Ghoto include 171-year-old James Olofintuyi from Nigeria and 163-year-old Dhaqabo Ebba from Ethiopia.</s>The Indonesian man who at 146 years of age was assumed to be the oldest living person has died in his village in Central Java.

Sodimejo – also known as Mbah Gotho – from Sragen, Solo in Central Java, reportedly died on Sunday (Apr 30) after being admitted to Sragen Hospital two days ago.

According to his papers, Sodimedjo was born in December 1870.

But Indonesia only started recording births in 1900 – and there have been mistakes before.

Yet officials told his papers were valid, based on documents he provided and interviews with him.

He had outlived his four wives and three of his children.

When asked about the secret of his longevity, Sodimedjo told last year that patience was key.

Grandson Suryanto said his grandfather was buried on Monday morning in a local cemetery plot he bought several years ago.

A tombstone that had sat beside his house for many years was placed above the grave.

“He didn’t ask much. Before he died, he just want us, his family, to let him go,” his grandson said.</s>JAKARTA: The man who at 146 years of age was assumed to be the oldest living person in Indonesia has died.

Sodimejo - also known as Mbah Gotho - from Sragen, Solo in Central Java, reportedly died on Sunday (Apr 30) after being admitted to Sragen Hospital two days ago.

Indonesia's Sambungmacan section deputy police chief Zaeni was quoted by online media as saying that the centenarian regularly received treatment at the hospital but refused to be admitted.

"He was warded at the hospital before this but insisted to be taken ... home," he said.

Based on his resident identity card, Mbah Gotho, who had never suffered from any critical illness, was born in December 1870.

He had outlived his four wives and three of his children.

Mbah Gotho had said in previous interviews with local media that life is a matter of accepting your destiny.

"Life is only a matter of accepting your destiny wholeheartedly," he told the Jakarta Post last year.



"I have wanted to die for a long time. My wives, children and siblings all have passed away but Gusti Allah [God] has blessed me with a long life. I have to live my life patiently and accept my destiny wholeheartedly."



His death comes just three days after the oldest woman in Malaysia died on Friday.</s>An Indonesian man who claimed to be the oldest person alive, died at the age of 146 in his village in the Seragaen district of Central Java, according to a news report in Daily Mail. Saparman Sodimejo, also known as Mbah Ghoto, had an identity card which recorded the date of his birth as December 31, 1870, which was reportedly confirmed by the Indonesian records office. A funeral for Sodimejo was held on Monday.

Sodimejo, who celebrated his 146th birthday last December, is said to have outlived 10 of his siblings, four of his wifes — the last one died in 1988 — and all his children, reported Daily Mail. His grandchildren and great grandchildren celebrated his birthday with him. Sodimejo was hospitalised for six days in early April after his health started deteriorating, and later passed away at his residence.

“Since he came back from the hospital, he only ate spoonfuls of porridge and drank very little,” Sodimejo’s grandson Suryanto told the BBC. “It only lasted a couple of days. From that moment on to his death, he refused to eat and drink.” Suryanto added that Sodimejo has been preparing for his death since he was 122 and a gravestone was made for him in 1992 — 24 years ago — reported Daily Mail.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App now</s>Mbah Gotho, from Indonesia, has passed away at the age of 146. Gotho was confirmed to be the worlds oldest man, when he provided documentation that proved he was born in December 1870.

Gotho was a heavy smoker all his life. Last month he was taken to the hospital for an unknown health issue on April 12th. He checked himself out six days later and passed away shortly after in his village in Central Java.

He was buried on Monday morning in a cemetery plot near his home. Gotho outlived his four wives, 10 siblings and all of his children. Mbah Gotho goes down in history as the longest living human being in recorded history.</s>A man who claimed to be the oldest person alive has died aged 146, he family say.

Mbah Gotho is understood to have outlived four wives, 10 siblings and all of his children.

The Indonesian from Central Java is believed to have checked himself out of hospital six days after being admitted on April 12.

The great-great-grandfather then died shortly afterwards after 'refusing' to eat or drink.

He died shortly afterwards having "refused" to eat or drink.

Mbah hit the headlines last year after presenting documentation showing he was born in December 1870.

Remarkably, the "heavy smoker's" papers were recognised by Indonesian officials, who claimed they were valid.

If correct, he would have lived significantly longer than the verified oldest person in the world ever - Jeanne Calment.

Jeanne, from France, lived to be a staggering 122 years old.

This morning, grieving relatives and friends were pictured attending Mbah's funeral service in his hometown of Sragen.

A portrait of the elderly man was positioned at the end of his open casket, along with a large wooden cross.

Mbah's grandson, Suyanto, said his granddad was buried in a cemetery plot that he had purchased in the area years ago.

He told the BBC: "Since he came back from the hospital, he only ate spoonfuls of porridge and drank very little.

"It only lasted a couple of days. From that moment on to his death, he refused to eat and drink."

He added that Mbah had wanted his relatives to "let him go".

Last year, the super-senior citizen, who had been preparing for his death for over two decades, had told reporters he wanted to die.

"What I want is to die," he said.

"My grandchildren are all independent."

He added that the "recipe" for his longevity was "just patience".

While Mbah’s date of birth is listed on his documentation as December 31, 1870, this has not yet been independently verified.</s>The Indonesian man who claimed to be 146 years old – the longest living human ever – has died in his village in Central Java.

 According to his papers, Sodimedjo, also known as Mbah Ghoto (grandpa Ghoto), was born in December 1870.

 But Indonesia only started recording births in 1900 – and there have been mistakes before.

 Yet officials told the BBC his papers were valid, based on documents he provided and interviews with him.

 He was taken to hospital on 12 April because of deteriorating health. Six days later he insisted on checking out to return home.

 “Since he came back from the hospital, he only ate spoonfuls of porridge and drank very little,” his grandson Suyanto told the BBC.

 “It only lasted a couple of days. From that moment on to his death, he refused to eat and drink.”

 When asked about the secret of his longevity, Mbah Ghoto told the BBC last year that patience was key and that he had “a long life because I have people that love me looking after me”.</s>A 22-year-old Worcester man driving a Cadillac the wrong way on Route 146 collided with a Honda Accord just over the state line early Saturday, the state police said. Two women in the Honda were seriously injured.

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Sodimejo, an Indonesian man who made an unverified claim to have been born in 1870, which would have made him 146 years old, has died.