A new world’s shortest man is just 59cm tall…er…short

A Filipino blacksmith’s son who stopped growing when he was a toddler has been declared the world’s shortest man as he celebrated his 18th birthday.

Measuring just 59.93cm, Junrey Balawing is the eldest of four siblings…the rest all of normal stature…born in the rural town of Sindangan on southern Mindanao island.

“Officially he is the world’s shortest man,” said Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of the Guinness Book of World Records who measured Balawing in front of cheering relatives and villagers.

The previous record holder was Khagendra Thapa Magar of Nepal, who was measured in 2010 at just over 66cm.

“Thank you to all of you for supporting my son, the world’s shortest man,” Junrey’s father, Reynaldo, told a crush of reporters and photographers.

Junrey then blew out a candle on a cake specially made for him, before telling the crowd in a tiny voice in the local dialect, “Kapoy (I’m tired).”

by Sasha Dubonitz

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