World's oldest person dies in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO: A Brazilian woman recognized as the oldest person in the world has died at the age of 114, local media reported Tuesday.

Maria Gomes Valentim was certified in May as the world's oldest person, edging past US woman Besse Cooper, who is 48 days younger, according to Guinness World Records.


Valentim, who had been a widow since 1946 and confined to a wheelchair, was hospitalized on Sunday with pneumonia and died later from infection, according to the Globo news site G1.

Born July 9, 1896, she had credited a healthy diet with giving her a long life.

Valentim had one son, four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. (AFP)