The tallest person in world history was 2 m 72 cm tall

Robert Pershing Wadlow is the tallest person in world history with unquestionable evidence of his height.

Wadlow's parents were of rather average height (his father was 180 cm tall and weighed 77 kg); he (the firstborn) had two younger brothers and two sisters of normal height. Until the age of 4, Robert had a normal height and weight for his age, but from that moment on, he began to grow rapidly and attract general attention. At 8 years old, he was 1 m 88 cm tall, at the age of 9 he could carry his father in his arms up the stairs, and at 10 years old he reached 198 cm in height and 100 kg in weight. At 18 years old, he was already 254 cm tall, weighed 177 kg and wore shoe size 37AA (European 75); by this time, Wadlow, who had become an all-American celebrity, had his shoes made for free.

Over time, Wadlow's health deteriorated: due to rapid growth, he had limited sensitivity in his legs and began to need crutches. On June 27, 1940, his height was measured for the last time in St. Louis - the giant's height was 2.72 m. On July 4, 1940, during a performance on Independence Day in Manistee, Michigan, a crutch rubbed Robert's leg, causing an infection and rapidly developing sepsis. Doctors tried to save the life of the famous American with blood transfusions and surgery, but on July 15, the tallest man in the world died in his sleep.

40,000 Americans attended Wadlow's funeral: his coffin weighed half a ton and was carried by 12 people. Wadlow's grave was carefully concreted at the request of his family, who feared that Robert's remains would be stolen. His grave only says: "At Rest"; his monument is twice the standard height in the cemetery.

Source: Guinness Book of Records

Fact sent by Artyom Weinstein

via factroom.ru