New World’s Oldest Man, 111, Puts Long Life Down to Weekly Fish and Chips and ‘Just Luck’
“You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it,” said new record-holder John Tinniswood
Guinness World Records
British man John Tinniswood was verified as the world’s oldest man by Guinness World Records on April 4, 2024John Tinniswood of the United Kingdom is now the oldest living man in the world at 111 years and 222 days old, according to Guinness World Records
Tinniswood, who now resides at a care home, did not credit any particular lifestyle choices to his longevity besides "just luck"
The oldest man to ever live on record, Jiroemon Kimura of Japan, died in 2013 at the age of 116
A resident in the United Kingdom is now the oldest man in the world — but he said there is no big secret behind his accomplishment.
John Tinniswood, of Southport, Merseyside, is 111 years and 222 days old, according to a Guinness World Records news release shared with PEOPLE.
Tinniswood was verified by the record-keeping organization as the world’s oldest man on Thursday, April 4, two days after the death of the previous title holder, Juan Vincente Mora.
He claimed his secret to living a long life is “just luck.”
“You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it,” Tinniswood said.
Related: How to Live as Long as Possible, According to the World's Oldest People
Tinniswood was born in Liverpool on Aug. 26, 1912, and married his wife Blodwen 30 years later amid World War II, according to Guinness World Records. The couple share one daughter, Susan, who was born the year after they wed.
Before his retirement in 1972, Tinniswood worked in an administrative role for the Royal Mail. He was also an accountant for both Shell and British Petroleum.
Tinniswood does not credit any particular lifestyle choices to his longevity, though he does enjoy a special meal each Friday: fish and chips.
Guinness World Records
John Tinniswood of the U.K. recently became the oldest living man in the world at the age of 111, per Guinness World RecordsNever miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“I eat what they give me and so does everybody else,” said Tinniswood, who lives in a care home in Southport. “I don’t have a special diet.”
His best advice is to enjoy things in moderation, per Guinness World Records.
“If you drink too much or you eat too much or you walk too much; if you do too much of anything, you’re going to suffer eventually,” he said.
On Thursday, Tinniswood received a special certificate from Guinness World Records for becoming the oldest man alive.
“Doesn’t make any difference to me,” he explained. “Not at all. I accept it for what it is.”
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He also offered some advice for younger generations.
“Let them make their own way in the world,” he said, “... we’re all different in different ways.”
The oldest man who ever lived on record was Jiroemon Kimura of Japan, at the age of 116 years and 54 days, per Guinness World Records. He died in 2013.
The world’s oldest living woman, Maria Branyas Morera, resides in Spain. She recently celebrated her 117th birthday.
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