THE world's oldest man has died at his Extremadura home just a month and a half after his 113th birthday.
Francisco Núñez Olivera, who was born on December 13, 1904 in the town of Bienvenida – which, curiously, translates as 'welcome' – south of the western border city of Badajoz was fond of reminding people that 'there was nobody else like him in the world'.
Spain's longest-surviving Civil War veteran, Francisco – who, other than his service abroad, had lived in Bienvenida all his life – became the oldest man in the world in summer 2017 after the death of the Israeli Auschwitz concentration camp survivor Yisrael Kristal, also when he was 113.
Francisco was nicknamed 'Marchena' most of his adult life, since he reminded villagers of the flamenco artist of the same name when he returned from military service in the Spanish-owned enclave of Ceuta on the northern coast of Morocco.
Known for his gentle nature, permanent smile and good humour, Francisco tended his allotment and mostly lived on the fruits of it until the age of 105, and even a couple of years before his death, would go out for a stroll round the village, chatting to locals and popping into the bar to watch the football.
He has lived with his daughter Antonia, who is in her 80s, for several years, and she is said to be devastated by the loss of her much-loved father whom she and his friends, family and neighbours were beginning to suspect would literally live forever.
And mayor of Bienvenida Antonio Carmona said Francisco was 'very well-loved by everyone' for his character, 'way of speaking and smile'.
“This is a sad day for the village, and also for the rest of the world,” said Carmona when he announced Francisco's death yesterday (Tuesday).
Antonia had broken the news that her father had passed away at home, by her side, at around 22.30 the night before.
Francisco had 'fans' from every continent, as he was fond of telling everyone who went to see him – he received bags of letters from all over the planet every day asking for a photo of him.
As well as being home to the world's oldest man, Spain was also – until about a month ago – the birthplace and lifelong residence of Europe's oldest and the world's third-oldest woman, Ana María Vela Rubio, who turned 116 in October 2017.
