'He just wanted us to let him go': Man who claimed to be the oldest human ever dies aged 146

Families attend the funeral ceremony of Mbah Gotho, an Indonesian man who claimed to be the oldest human in world's history. Photo / Solo Imaji / Barcroft Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images

An Indonesian man who claimed to be the longest living human in recorded history has died.

Mbah Gotho, from Sragen in central Java, was born on December 31, 1870, according to the date of birth on his identity card - making him 146 years old at he time of his death on Sunday.

According to local reports he was taken to hospital on April 12 due to deteriorating health, but had insisted on returning home to spend his remaining time with his family.

His grandson Suyanto told the BBC that Gotho was very weak on returning from hospital.

"It only lasted a couple of days," he said. "From that moment on to his death, he refused to eat and drink. He didn't ask much. Before he died, he just wanted us, his family, to let him go."

In 2016 officials at Gotho's local record office said they had finally been able to confirm the remarkable date on his documents as genuine.

But despite his incredible longevity, Gotho said he had little wish to remain on earth much longer.

"What I want is to die," he told local media last year. "My grandchildren are all independent."

Gotho outlived all 10 of his siblings, four wives, and even his children. At the time of his death his nearest living relatives were grand children, great grand children, and great-great grandchildren.

One of Gotho's grandsons said his grandfather had been preparing for his death ever since he was 122 - and in 1992 had bought a burial site close to the graves of his children, where he was buried on Monday.

In his final years Gotho spent most of his time sitting and listening to the radio because his eyesight was too poor to watch television.

When asked what his secret to longevity is, Gotho replied: "The recipe is just patience."

While record office staff say they had confirmed the birth date on his identity card, the finding were never independently verified.

French woman Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 at the age of 122, thus continues to hold the official record for the oldest human to ever live.