Bob Weighton, the oldest living man, just celebrated his 112th birthday at his assisted living home amid coronavirus social-distancing.
Weighton from the UK was recently named by Guinness Worlds Records the oldest living man in the world after the previous title holder, Chitetsu Watanabe from Japan, passed away.
One day before his special day, Weighton was presented with his official Guinness World Records certificate. But because of social distancing rules, the organization’s representatives couldn’t be on hand for the presentation, so staff at the home presented it to the birthday celebrant.
A spokesperson for the Guinness World Records said in a statement: “Due to social distancing, Guinness World Records was unable to be on-site.
“However, we enlisted the help of his assisted living home, who arranged for ‘Happy Birthday’ to be sung to him on his balcony and presented him with his certificate, all from a safe distance to celebrate this remarkable milestone.”
Weighton, who was born on March 29, 1908, told the organization that despite the acknowledgement, receiving the record as the world’s oldest living man is bittersweet.
After earning the title, he said: “I can’t say I am pleased to hear that the previous holder has died but I am very pleased that I’ve been able to live so long and make so many friends.”
He also added that it is also another thing to be named the world’s oldest man during coronavirus pandemic.
“It is bizarre. I’ve never experienced anything like coronavirus before,” he told The Guardian. “I’m a bit frustrated but then again I’ve been in situations where you just had to accept what was happening.”
Weighton added: “It’s alarming, it’s threatening. I never thought that something like this would happen — neither did anyone else.
“I’ve never been isolated before. I’ve had the flu and most children’s diseases, but never self-isolation. But there is nothing we can do about it so you might as well do what you can. Never mind about the things that you can’t.”
Weighton has three children, 10 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren.
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