SOUTH AFRICA: A South African man considered to be the oldest man in the world died at the age of 116.

Fredie Blom’s identity documents showed he was born in Eastern Cape in May 1904.

He was, however, never verified by Guinness World Records.

His family was wiped out by the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic when he was teenager.

He also survived two world wars and apartheid.

Blom had earlier said there was nothing special to his longevity.

He spent most of his life as a laborer on a farm and in a construction industry, and retired when he was in his 80s.

He gave up drinking several years ago but was a regular smoker.

According to his family, his family said he died of natural causes in Cape Town.

(With inputs from Agencies)