Rio De Janeiro: A Brazilian woman
recognized as the oldest person in the world has died at the
age of 114, local media reported.
Maria Gomes Valentim was certified in May as the
world's oldest person, edging past US woman Besse Cooper, who
is 48 days younger, according to Guinness World Records.
Valentim, who had been a widow since 1946 and confined
to a wheelchair, was hospitalized on Sunday with pneumonia and
died later from infection, according to the Globo news site
G1.
Born July 9, 1896, she had credited a healthy diet
with giving her a long life.
Valentim had one son, four grandchildren, seven
great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, June 22, 2011, 10:56