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Joan Riudavets Moll was a Spanish supercentenarian who held the titles of the oldest living man and person in Europe, and the oldest recognized man in the world following the death of Yukichi Chuganji in September 2003, until his own death. He is the oldest Spanish-born man ever.
Joan Riudavets Moll was born in Es Migjorn Gran, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain, on 15 December 1889. His mother, Catalina Moll Mercades, died at the age of 25 before the end of December 1889, quite possibly giving her son the record for the longest period by which anyone has survived a parent: 114 years, 70 days.
Uncommonly fit for a supercentenarian, he was able to walk and ride a bicycle even at his advanced age. He worked as a cobbler until retiring in 1954 and was a former village councilor of Es Migjorn Gran. He would go to sleep at midnight and would sleep for 12 hours before getting up at around noon.
Joan Riudavets Moll died in Es Migjorn Gran, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain on 5 March 2004, at the age of 114 years, 81 days. He reportedly had a cold during the last few days of his life but was not seriously ill. He was survived by two younger half-brothers: Josep, who died in 2009 at the age of 102, and Pere, who died in 2006 at the age of 105, the oldest living resident on the island at the time of his death.
In December 1999, he celebrated his 110th birthday, becoming the first supercentenarian from the Balearic Islands. He was the only recorded supercentenarian from the islands until August 2021, when Maria Angeles Uhler Terres turned 110. Uhler Terres died in the Community of Madrid, therefore Riudavets Moll is still the only supercentenarian to die in the Balearic Islands.
On 3 January 2002, following the death of 112-year-old Antonio Todde of Italy, he became the oldest living man in Europe. On 14 May 2003, following the death of 113-year-old Teresa Fumarola of Italy, he became the oldest living person in Europe.
On 28 September 2003, following the death of 114-year-old Yukichi Chuganji of Japan, he became the world’s oldest living man, at the age of 113 years, 287 days. His record was recognized by the Guinness World Records.
Riudavets Moll was the last known surviving validated man born in the year 1889, as well as in the 1880s decade.
Riudavets Moll on his 114th birthday, in December 2003. (Source: Elmundo.es)
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