Free Republic

An Indonesian man is claiming to be 145 year old - making him the oldest person in the world. Sidomejo - or Mbah Gotho as he is known locally - claims to have been born on December 31, 1870, and he even has the "identity card" to prove it. He says the secret to his exceptional longevity is to "relax and take it easy" and that there is "nothing special" in his eating habits. A local official said that while his ID card is real, it is impossible to verify Sidomejo's claims. But the local government would help the elderly...

An Indonesian man who claims to be the longest living human in recorded history has described how he “just wants to die”. Mbah Gotho, from Sragen in central Java, was born on December 31, 1870, according to the date of birth on his identity card. Now officials at the local record office say they have finally been able to confirm that remarkable date as genuine.