World’s Oldest Person And Tallest Woman Die Days Apart

The world’s oldest person has died – just days after the world’s tallest woman passed away. Besse Cooper died peacefully yesterday at her Georgia nursing home, at the age of 116.

Her son, Sidney said his mum had been ill over the weekend with a stomach virus, but started to feel better on Monday. He said she had her hair set and watched a Christmas video yesterday, but later had trouble breathing, was put on oxygen in her room and died in the afternoon.

Mrs Cooper was declared the world’s oldest person in January, but in May, Guinness World Records learned that Brazilian Maria Gomes Valentin was 48 days older. Ms Valentin died on June 21.

A Guinness official says the title now belongs to 115-year-old Dina Manfredini, of Johnston, Iowa.

Mrs Cooper’s death comes just days after the world’s tallest woman, Yao Defen, died in China at the age of 39.