Spaniard, 114, world's oldest man, dies

A 114-year-old Spanish shoemaker, who was believed to be the world’s oldest man and who was known for riding a bicycle even after he turned 100, has died, it was reported today.

Joan Riudavets died peacefully on Friday at his home in Es Migjorn Gran on the Spanish Mediterranean island of Menorca, the same village in which he was born on December. 15, 1889. A day before he died he was in coma, Madrid daily El Pais reported today.

London-based Guinness World Records recognised Riudavets as the oldest man alive last October following the death of Japan’s Yukichi Chuganji, also 114, in September.

Guinness lists the world’s oldest woman as Charlotte Benkner, 114, from the U.S. state of Ohio. She was born in Germany on November 16, 1889.

Riudavets became a shoemaker following the family’s tradition and retired half a century ago.

He was living with his daughter Paca and attributed his longevity to a “calm life, good health and an excellent mood,” El Pais quoted Ruidavets as saying.

“The most important thing is not to get older, but be in peace, and be friends with others, with respect to your family and peace for yourself,” Ruidavets had told reporters on his 114th birthday. He was known for taking walks, riding a bicycle and he loved meeting friends.

Guinness said Ruidavets initially wanted to study medicine and that he was enamoured with the invention of the aeroplane. But he said the most important change he’d seen in his lifetime “was electricity – without a doubt it changed everything.”

He smoked “but not too much” and credited his longevity with moderation, exercise and a healthy diet.

Ruidavets is survived by his brothers Pere, who is 104 years old, and Josep, 98 and is daugher Paca. His wife, whom he married in 1917, also was born in 1889 but died at the age of 90. He had three daughters, five grandsons and six great-grandchildren, Guiness said.