The world’s shortest man Chandra Bahadur Dangi had passed away in the Samoa Islands, US territory in the South Pacific, where he was touring. Danji was verified by the Guinness Book Officials and had given Guinness Book of Record as the world’s shortest man at 21.5 inches (54.6cm). Danji was died due to undisclosed illness. The 75-year-old won the record in Guinness book on February 26 in 2012 after being found to be half an inch shorter than the previous holder, Gul Mohammed from India.

Dangi also had a record of the world’s shortest adult ever measured. The 75-year-old Dangi lived in a remote village around 400km from Reemkholi in Dang district, Kathmandu, Nepal and travelled the world after he was officially declared the world’s smallest man in 2013, before which he had never left his village. In Danji’s family, all of whom are normal in height.

Danji was touring Samoa Islands, a US territory in South Pacific Ocean, when he fell sick and was admitted to Lyndon B Johnson Tropical Medical Center in Pago Pago at around midday. Thaneswar Guragai, himself is a Guinness World Record holder for the longest spinning of a basketball on the nose and who assisted him on his tours, was quoted in Himalayan Times: “Chandra Bahadur Dangi’s nephew, Dolakh, called me from the Samoa Islands and asked me to inform the family about the death.”

The medical centre in Samoa Islands where Dangi was undergoing treatment, is preparing to issue the death certificate before handing over his body to his family or their representative. Guinness World Records said in a statement it was “deeply saddened” to hear of his passing. “GWR would like to express its sincere and heartfelt condolences to Mr Dangi’s family in this difficult time. He will be remembered forever as an iconic and extraordinary record holder.”

Nepal’s Ambassador to the United States, Arjun Karki, told THT Online over phone that the Nepali mission in Washington DC is yet to receive information about Dangi’s death officially.