World’s oldest smoker dies of asthma attack shortly after 121st birthday

At 121 years old, Uncle Jan would have been the oldest man in the world, but his age was not recognized by Guinness World Records. According to them, the oldest man is João Marinho Neto from Brazil, born on October 5, 1912. He is 113 years old today.

During his life, Jan worked as a gravedigger, fisherman and golf caddy. He survived two world wars, the apartheid regime in South Africa and the Covid pandemic. The man said in an interview last year that he owes his long life to God.

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“God is my oxygen and my salvation,” he said at the time. It certainly wasn’t due to his healthy lifestyle. Jan admitted in the same interview that he had been smoking cigarettes since he was fourteen years old. “I even stole cigarettes at the time,” he said.

His self-proclaimed “miracle cure” was an herbal drink that he drank almost every day. Steenberg claimed it kept him sane and sane throughout his life. He was known for always dressing stylishly, with a hat and suit, and he was always on the dance floor at events. A friend of Jan’s family describes him as “humble, quiet and a gentleman”.

Uncle Jan died in the early morning of January 1, surrounded by his relatives. He is survived by two daughters, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, as well as four dogs and a cat.

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