World’s oldest person dies at the age of 116

ELIZABETH “Lizzie” Bolden, recognised as the world’s oldest person, has died at 116.

Ms Bolden, who died on Monday, was born on August 15, 1890, according to the Gerontology Research Group, a Los Angeles-based group that tracks the ages of the world’s oldest people.

Guinness World Records recognised Ms Bolden as the oldest person in August after the death of Ecuador’s Maria Ester de Capovilla, who previously was listed as the oldest.

Ms Bolden had lived at the Mid-South Health and Rehabilitation Centre nursing home in Memphis, Tennessee, for several years until her death.

Ms Holden suffered a stroke in 2004 and her family said she spoke little after that and slept for most of the day.

Family members said she had 40 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren, 150 great-great-grandchildren, 220 great-great-greatgrandchildren and 75 great-great-great-great grandchildren.

Emiliano Mercado del Toro, 115, of Puerto Rico is now expected to assume the title of world’s oldest person, says Robert Young, a Guinness researcher. The Gerontology Research Group lists Toro’s date of birth as August 21, 1891.