Phuket abbot is 'world’s oldest man'

Luang Pu Supha, abbot of Luang Pu Supha temple in Chalong, has presented the Gazette with copies of government-issued identification papers showing that he was born in Sakon Nakhon province, in the the northeast of Thailand, on September 17, 1896.

The birth date makes Luang Pu Supha four days older than American Walter Breuning, who currently claims the Guinness World Records’ title of ‘Oldest Living Man’.

Mr Breuning will celebrate his 113th birthday on September 21.

According to the Guinness World Records’ official website, the title was to be awarded to Breuning following the death of British World War One veteran, Henry Allingham, who died on July 18 this year, aged 113.