World’s oldest man (112) dead | Abroad

De la Fuente died today in his hometown and residence León, in northwestern Spain. That happened around 11 o’clock this morning, shortly after his breakfast, says son-in-law Bernardo Marcos. “He suddenly began to breathe louder and within seconds, he breathed his last. He went out like a candle.”

It marked the end of a long life. According to his papers, the Spaniard was born on February 11, 1909. However, the family themselves kept February 8 as a day to celebrate his birthday. At that time, people first looked at whether the newborn baby would survive its first days. If that didn’t happen, it would save paperwork, was their argument.

De la Fuente was the oldest man in the world since September 10, 2021 according to Guinness World Records. He was 112 years and 211 days old at the time. Just before that, the Puerto Rican Emilio Flores, then slightly older, had died. “A quiet life… and hurting no one,” De la Fuente told the record organization his secret to longevity.

The Spaniard was born during the reign of Alfonso XIII, he lived the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, suffered under the civil war and the regime of General Francisco Franco. According to De la Fuente, he was never called up for the army because of his short height. He measured only 1.50 meters.

The man – listening to the nickname ‘The Cucumber’ – became a shoemaker. The shoe factory in which he worked would later make boots for the national army.

In 1933, the Spaniard married Antonina Barrio Gutiérrez. Together they had eight children: seven daughters and a son. The boy died as a child. Two more of his children later died.

De la Fuente survived the Spanish Flu and became the first man to be vaccinated against the virus in the province of León during the corona pandemic. In 1937, he was buried under the rubble of a building after a plane crashed in León, local media reported. He survived that too.

In recent years, De la Fuente was cared for by one of his daughters and son-in-law Bernardo. The Spaniard also leaves behind 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. De la Fuente will be buried tomorrow.