While the title of world’s oldest living human is continually claimed by centenarians from all corners of the globe, Ukrainian Hryhory Nestor, who celebrates his 116th birthday today, probably has a stronger claim than most.
Born on March 15 1891, birthday boy Hryhory is nearly two years older than Yone Minagawa, the Japanese woman who celebrated her 114th birthday back in January and was presumed to be the world's oldest person.
Nestor also has over 4 years on Tomoji Tanabe, the 111 year old Japanese villager who claimed to be the world’s oldest living man.
But while the true age of these craggy contenders is frequently disputed, Nestor, whose story was only recently discovered by a Ukrainian newspaper, has Austrian, Soviet-era and Ukrainian passports that all confirm his longevity.
Nestor is a resident of Stari Yarychiv, a small village 25 miles from the historical city of Lviv. He has lived in West Ukraine all his life and puts his long life down to a diet of milk, cheese and potatoes plus an outdoors lifestyle that involves sleeping under the summer skies and walking barefoot throughout the surrounding countryside.
May I not live to be 116 years old. After 80, I'm fine, thank you.
