World's Oldest Man confirmed as Brazilian pig farmer who's worked in fields since he was 4

The former pig farmer has been officially named as the world’s oldest man following the death of Englishman John Alfred Tinniswood - who died in Southport on Monday aged 112

A Brazilian former pig farmer who fathered seven children with two partners has been officially named as the world ’s oldest man following the death of Englishman John Alfred Tinniswood.

Mr Tinniswood died in Southport on Monday aged 112 just months after winning the Guinness World Record title. It has now been handed over to Joao Marinho Neto - who is today aged 112 years and 55 days old, as confirmed by LongeviQuest in Ceara, Brazil.

Guinness World Records confirmed the news on X on Tuesday, writing: “Say hello to the new oldest man in the world, Brazil ’s João Marinho Neto, at the age of 112 years and 52 days old.”

It added in a statement: “Born in Maranguape, Ceara, Brazil, on 5 October 1912, he was previously recognized as the oldest living man in Brazil and in Latin America. He is also now the last surviving man who was born in 1912. Joao was born into a family of farmers and moved with his parents to a rural area of Apuiares.

"He was helping his father out in the fields by the time he was four. His jobs around the farm included helping take care of the cattle and harvesting fruit from Juazeiro trees. Joao went on to marry Josefa Albano dos Santos (1920–1994), and they welcomed four children together - Antonio, Jose, Fatima, and Vanda.

“He followed in his father’s farming footsteps, cultivating the land his then-wife inherited in Fazenda Massape, to grow corn and beans. He also raised cattle, goats, pigs and chickens."

Joao, who said the secret to his long life is "being surrounded by good people and keeping his loved ones close by", later welcomed three more children called Vinicius, Jarbas, and Conceicao with partner Antonia Rodrigues Moura. He has six living children, 22 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

A spokesman for LongeviQuest, which defines itself as the global authority on maximum human longevity, said: “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to him and his family on this remarkable achievement. We wish him continued good health and many more years of happiness. His story stands as an inspiration to people across the globe.”

Joao became the oldest known living man in Latin America at the age of 111 years, 180 days on April 2 following the passing of 114-year-old Venezuelan Juan Vicente Perez Mora. Mr Perez Mora’s death led to World War Two veteran Mr Tinniswood becoming the world’s oldest man for a few months.

Paying tribute to the lifelong Liverpool fan earlier this week, his family said in a statement: “'John had many fine qualities. He was intelligent, decisive, brave, calm in any crisis, talented at maths and a great conversationalist.”

The world’s oldest living woman currently is Japan’s Tomiko Itooka, who is 116.