World's oldest man, WWI vet, dies aged 113

CNN.com/europe ^ | July 18, 2009 | CNN.com/europe

[NEWwoman]

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Henry Allingham, the world's oldest man and the oldest surviving British veteran from World War I, has died at the age of 113, his care home said Saturday.

[NEWwoman]

It was worth noting the passing of a World War I veteran. He served his country and the allies. My grandfather fought in that war and it earned him his US citizenship.

[henkster]

Wikipedia now lists four verified surviving WW1 vets worldwide. Two Brits, a Canuck and a Yank.

[shineon]

This means that after 113 years. About 7 Billion to none says you’re a goner.

[NEWwoman]

Sounds like a sure bet, shineon. ;)

[umgud]

What did he die of?

[NEWwoman]

Thanks for the statics, henkster. Love your tagline.

[NEWwoman]

You know the British health care system, umgud. It can kill you - even if you are 113! :)

[sauropod]

I remember seeing a bio piece on the BBC last year when I was in the UK. Amazing man.

IMNSHO, his passing is much more of a loss than Leftie Walter Cronkite.

[NEWwoman]

Mega dittos, sauropod. And also think of all the attention paid to Michael Jackson! He did not even live to half this man’s age.

[henkster]

Made it up myself :-)

[NEWwoman]

Good job! You ought to make bumper stickers and posters for the next tea party!

[allmost]

Check the count tomorrow.

[Mmogamer]

No one can ever understand the horrors these brave men faced, on either side,,,Axis or Allied... even WW2 wasn’t
the same as the slaughter of the War to end all Wars..

[R W Reactionairy]

This means that after 113 years. About 7 Billion to none says you’re a goner."

The odds of living longer are not good, but your math has issues. There were only about 2 billion alive at the time of his birth.; I believe there is at least one woman still alive who is older; and since medical care has improved since then meaning [for now] you have a much better chance of dying from absolute old age rather than dying from something totally curable as a younger age.

[BallyBill]

One that didn't make it. My moms uncle, killed in the Argonne Forrest less than one month before the Armistice.

I've wanted to crop that pic for awhile, seemed like a good time to get it.

[NEWwoman]

War is hell and it was terrible tragedy that this one was not avoided. We are all indebt to their sacrifices!

[NEWwoman]

We thank your family for your great uncle’s service to his country.

[wideminded]

This means that after 113 years. About 7 Billion to none says you’re a goner."

Since we seem to hear the news "World's Oldest Person Dies" every 3 or 4 months, this indicates that the average life expectancy of these very oldest people is also on the order of a few months.

So, once one becomes the World's Oldest Person, you can expect to have at least a few more months to go.

Of course the unique factors in each of these individuals that brought them to this age cause a few of them to live for several years after becoming World's Oldest Person.

[shineon]

Ah well I’ll have to go back and re-calculate. But you still uphold my theory of - “50% of everything twice” - recursive.

[R W Reactionairy]

I suppose there is an actuary out there who could crank out the life expectancy of a 113 year old male.

For what it is worth, there was a French woman who died a few years back at the age of 122 who held the title of the oldest living human for many years.