‘World’s oldest man’ who smoked his entire life dies of an bronchial asthma assault hours after celebrating ‘121st birthday’
A South African who smoked since the age of 14 and claimed to be the world’s oldest man has died of an asthma attack just hours after celebrating his 121st birthday.
Jan Steenberg, affectionately known as Oom Jan, died on New Year’s Day in the village of Colchester, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
He claimed his age was 121 years old, which would make him the the oldest living man in the world.
But the centenarian, who says he was born on December 31, 1904, is not formally recognised by Guiness World Records as the world’s oldest living man.
That title is currently held by Brazilian Joao Marinho Neto.
Jan worked during his lifetime as a grave digger, fisherman and golf caddie.
He lived through two world wars, the atrocities of the apartheid era and the Covid-19 pandemic.
During an interview in 2025, Jan attributed his longevity to his faith, saying that God was the reason he was still alive.
Jan Steenberg, who claimed to be the world’s oldest man, has died of an asthma attack
Steenberg claims to have been born in South Africa in 1904
Picture shows the ID of Jan Steenberg, 121, undated.
He said: ‘God is my oxygen and my saviour. Though I also smoke. I’ve been smoking since I was 14 – back then, I used to steal cigarettes.’
Jan had also said the traditional herbal drink he consumed almost daily worked like a ‘potion’, keeping him healthy and lucid his entire life.
The elderly man was surrounded by family members when he died and is survived by two daughters, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, as well as four dogs and a cat.
Family friend Michelle Brown said Jan had received a special honorary award every year at the Senior Citizen of the Year Awards because he was always much older than the other recipients.
She described him as humble, quietly spoken and a gentleman.
Jan was known for dancing at the events and always dressed smartly in a hat and suit.
He was also known as a dog lover who always took care of the animals in his community.
