Puerto Rican sugarcane farmer and great-grandfather is officially named as the world’s oldest man at 112 years old, by Guinness World Records
At 112 years old, a Puerto Rican former sugarcane farmer who has been confirmed by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living man.
Emilio Flores Márquez, who was born in northeast city of Carolina on August 8, 1908, credits his incredible longevity to an ethos of spreading love and ending hate.
'My father raised me with love, loving every one,' said Flores Márquez, whose confirmed age is 112 years and 326 days as of Wednesday, according to Guinness World Records.
'He always told me and my siblings to do good, to share everything with others. Besides, Christ lives in me.'
The previous oldest living man, recognized by Guinness World Records, was Romania’s Dumitru Comănescu who held the record for less than one month before he died last year, on June 27, at the age of 111 years 219 days.
Meanwhile, the oldest person living person in the world is Japanese woman Kane Tanaka, who was born on 2 January 1903 and has reached the grand age of 117 years and 41 days.
Emilio Flores Márquez, a Puerto Rican former sugarcane farmer who has been confirmed by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living man
Puerto Rico native Emilio Flores Márquez was married to Andrea Pérez for 75 years. The couple had four children. She passed away in 2010
Flores Márquez was the first-born son of Alberto Flores Melendez and Margarita Márquez-García who had 11 children together. Ten survived.
He worked alongside his father on the family sugarcane farm and was tasked with watering and loading the sugarcane on carts before they were hauled off. Flores Márquez said he would also be assigned a list of home chores and told to look after his nine siblings.
'I was the oldest of the children, so I did everything,' he recalled. I scrubbed, I took care of the boys, I did everything.'
Known as 'Don Millo,' Flores Márquez would marry Andrea Pérez, his wife of 75 years with whom he had four children. She passed away in 2010.
Flores Márquez had surgery at the age of 101 to have a pacemaker implanted and is healthy. He does suffer from loss of hearing.
He lives in the municipality of Trujillo Alto with his two living children, Tirsa and Emilio, who care for him.
Flores Márquez has five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Guinness World Records recognized Emilio Flores Márquez, of Puerto Rico, as the oldest living man. His confirmed age is 112 years and 326 days, He is pictured with his son Emilio and daughter Tirsa, both of whom live with him in the city of Trujillo Alto
Emilio Flores Márquez lives in the Puerto Rico municipality of Trujillo Alto with his two living children, Tirsa and Emilio, who care for him. He has five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren
'It's always an honor to celebrate these remarkable human beings, and this year we've processed applications from not one but two contenders for the title of Oldest living man,' said Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday.
'I am thrilled to feature Sr. Márquez - born, interestingly, on the 8th day of the 8th month in the 8th year of the 20th century! - and bring his fascinating story to the wider public. But alongside this, I am also pleased that we got the chance to pay our respects to Dumitru Comănescu, who briefly held the record but sadly passed before we went to press.'
French national Jeanne Calment is the oldest person ever to have lived with a lifespan 122 years and 164 days. She was born February 21, 1875 and died August 4, 1997.
The oldest man to ever live was Jiroemon Kimura, of Japan, April 19, 1897 and died at the age of 116 years and 54 days on June 12, 2013.