Puerto Rican Emilio Flores Marquez was, on June 30, confirmed by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living person (male) with a confirmed age of 112 years and 326 days (as of June 30).

Born August 8, 1908, in Puerto Rico’s Carolina, Emilio is the second oldest of 11 children born to Alberto Flores Melendez and Margarita Marquez-Garcia, Guinness world records reported.

Emilio, from a very young age, extended a helping hand to his father on their sugarcane farm and was often responsible for watering and loading the sugarcane onto wagons for transport.

He was also given the responsibility of carrying out household chores and caring for his nine surviving siblings. In life, he continued with farming and later made this into a vocation.

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Married for 75 years Emilio and Andrea Perez made a family of four children, of which two are still alive. Sadly, Andrea died in 2010. Currently, Emilio is survived by five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He currently resided in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, where his two children, Tirsa and “Millito” take care of him.

As per Guinness, at the age of 101, Emilio underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker. And 11 years later he is as fit as an ox.

He is fondly known as “Don Millo”, and believes that one needs an abundance of love to live life without anger.

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He received his world record certificate in his home.

The evidence for the oldest person living (male) was examined by Guinness World Records Senior Consultant for Gerontology, Robert Young.  

The previous record was held by Romania’s Dumitru Comanescu (born November 21, 1908). He held the record for less than one month before dying on June 27, 2020, at 111 years 219 days.

The oldest person ever to have lived is Jeanne Calment (France), who lived to be 122 years and 164 days.

The oldest person living (female) is Kane Tanaka (Japan, born January 2, 1903). Her record was confirmed at the age of 117 years and 41 days on 12 February 2020.

As of June 30, 2021, she is now aged 118 years and 179 days.