The Guinness World Records has verified that the world's smallest man, Chandra Bahadur Dangi, died Thursday at an American Samoa hospital at the age of 75. Dangi, a Nepalese man, died of an undisclosed illness, according to India Real Time. He was suffering from pneumonia when he was admitted to the hospital last week.
"GWR would like to express its sincere and heartfelt condolences to Mr. Dangi's family in this difficult time," Guinness World Records said in a statement, USA Today reported. "He will be remembered forever as an iconic and extraordinary record holder."
Ironically, Guinness found Dangi themselves. When they had heard rumors of a man in Nepal that was 2 inches shorter than the current record holder, a gentleman from the Philippines, they sent out a record keeper to verify Dangi. When Dangi's height was officially confirmed in 2012 by the record keepers who traveled to Kathmandu to meet him, it was also noted that he was the shortest man ever measured.
"It's been a lifelong dream to travel and becoming a Guinness World Records title holder has enabled me to do that," said the 31-pound Dangi. Dangi was very proud of his title, according to the New York Daily News.
Dangi was a primordial dwarf. Three of his five brothers were less than four feet tall, while his two sisters and two other brothers are of average height.
