World's shortest man dies

A Nepalese national, Chandra Bahadur Dangi who was verified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s shortest man, died on Friday in the Samoa Islands, US territory in the South Pacific.

The Guinness World Records had recognised Dangi as the world’s shortest man on Feb 26, 2012. He was 54.6 cm (21.5 inch) tall, at the time of verification by the Guinness team, when he was 72.

Dangi of Nepal’s western district of Dang, who was in the US for a short visit, died in hospital while undergoing treatment of pneumonia, said his manager Thaneshwar Guragain, who is also a Guinness World Record holder. Dangi was 75.

After falling sick, Dangi was admitted to Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Centre in Pago Pago of Samoa Islands and breathed his last at around noon Friday, Guragain said.

“I am saddened by the death,” he said.

The hospital is preparing to issue the death certificate before handing over Dangi’s body to his family or their representative, he added.

Besides being the shortest man, Dangi also had a record of the world’s shortest adult ever measured.