World’s Oldest Known Person, André Dies At 118

Details have emerged that the world’s oldest known person, Lucile Randon has died at age 118 in the southern French city of Toulon.

Naija News understands that the death of Randon, who is a French nun popularly called Sister André was announced on Wednesday by Toulon city’s mayor Hubert Falco.

It was gathered that Sister André, who was born in the southern French town of Ales on Feb. 11, 1904, was listed as the oldest person alive by the Gerontology Research Group in April 2022.

Guinness World Records said Randon who took the name of Sister André in 1944, was the second-oldest French person and the second-oldest European person ever recorded.

It was learnt that Sister André received the record for the oldest COVID-19 survivor after an infection in 2021.

A feat the Guinness World Records editor, Craig Glenday in a statement described as incredible.

Glenday in the statement was quoted to have said “It’s difficult to fathom that someone born before the patenting of plastic, zips or even bras were alive well into the 21st century, and robust enough to beat COVID-19.

“It’s been an honour to record her story in the pages of the Guinness World Records book, and she will live on in history as the fourth oldest person ever authenticated.’’

Sister André, who entered a religious community in her early 40s, worked as a home teacher in her youth.

Most recently, Sister André was said to have been confined to a wheelchair, and for several years she could no longer see properly.

She was also said to be an honorary citizen of Toulon, where she lived in a retirement home for several years, as the city’s mayor, Falco described her as incredibly modern and a nun with a big heart.