The oldest man in the world has died aged 111, Guinness World Records has confirmed. Alexander Imich died in New York City.

Dr Imich was awarded the Guinness World Records title of Oldest living man on May 8th at the age of 111 years and 93 days.

He is reported to have died peacefully yesterday morning, according to friends who had been taking care of him.

He was born in Poland on February 4th 1903. In 1951 he and his wife, Wela, immigrated to the United States from the Soviet Union and Imich lived in Manhattan alone since she passed away in 1986.

He was a parapsychologist and retired chemist.

While his own longevity surprised even himself, he credited his life to good genes and an overall moderate, healthy lifestyle - eating very leanly his entire life as well as keeping away from alcohol.

"I don't know, I simply didn't die earlier. I have no idea how this happened" he told NBC 4 New York last month.

Editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, Craig Glenday, said "What an incredible life Dr. Imich led ­ fighting the Bolsheviks as a teenager, earning a PhD in the 1920s, surviving a Soviet labour camp, losing much of his family to the Nazis and pursuing a successful career as a chemist and parapsychologist".

"To live such an extraordinarily long and rich life is a testament to good genes, a healthy lifestyle and a positive mental attitude. Dr. Imich is an inspiration to anyone wishing to make the most out of their limited time on Earth".

Reports say that while Imich was the world's oldest man, he was not the oldest person.

Some 65 women outranked him on that score - with Misao Okawa (116) of Japan topping the list.

Guinness World Records says it is investigating potential successors for the oldest living man title.

The greatest fully authenticated age to which any human has ever lived is 122 years, 164 days by Jeanne Louise Calment of France - who died in 1997.