World's shortest man dies aged 75

Nepal's Chandra Bahadur Dangi, who was 21.5 inches tall (54.6 cm), died late Thursday in Pago Pago

LONDON: The world's shortest man, as verified by the Guinness Book of Records, has died of an undisclosed illness in American Samoa, a hospital spokesperson said Friday.

Nepal's Chandra Bahadur Dangi, who was 21.5 inches tall (54.6 cm), died late Thursday at the Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center in Pago Pago.

PHOTO: AFP

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The 75-year-old lived in a remote village around 400 kilometres (248 miles) from Kathmandu but travelled the world after he was officially declared the world's smallest man, posing for a photograph with world's tallest man Sultan Kosen in 2013.

PHOTO: AFP

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In a statement Guinness said: "He will be remembered forever as an iconic and extraordinary record holder". Guinness World Records also expressed it sincere and heartfelt condolences to Mr Dangi’s family.

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Chandra Dangi
1939-2015 http://t.co/3HPkdfyHpk pic.twitter.com/KBjCDd8c2B

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) September 4, 2015