Thursday, June 23, 2011

 Oldest person living: Besse Cooper sets world record (Video)

MONROE, Ga., USA -- Great grandmother Besse Cooper, aged 114 years and 299 days, has become the oldest person in the world , after the previous record holder died.

  Photo: World's Oldest Person Living: Besse Cooper.
  ( enlarge photo )

  The previous Guinness world record holder for the oldest person living person title was Maria Gomes Valentim (Brazil), of Carangola, Brazil. She has died just 18 days short of her 115th birthday.

Guinness World Records also recognized the oldest living man: Jiroemon Kimura (Japan), who was born 19 April 1897 and celebrated his 114th birthday in 2011.

  The new oldest person in the world is an American, Besse Cooper, who is 48 days younger than Valentim.

   Besse's son Sid Cooper said his mum was living in a retirement community and going well.

  He added: "She's gained some weight, she's eating real good.
 "Her memory is still really good. She remembers things from a long time ago and recognises people."