The world's shortest man, He Pingping, who stood just over two feet five inches tall (75 centimetres), has died, Britain's Guinness World Records said.

He was 21. He, a native of China who had a form of primordial dwarfism and measured 74.61 centimetres was in Rome taking part in a television show when he suffered chest problems.

He was taken to hospital, where he died over the weekend.

Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of London-based Guinness World Records, recalled measuring He in the northern Chinese region of Inner Mongolia in 2008.

“For such a small man, he made a huge impact around the world,” Glenday said.

“From the moment I laid on eyes on him, I knew he was someone special, he had such a cheeky smile and mischievous personality, you couldn't help but be charmed by him,” he said.

“He brightened up the lives of everyone he met, and was an inspiration to anyone considered different or unusual.” Guinness World Records said it would announce He's a successor as the world's shortest man in due course.

Khagendra Thapa Magar, 18, from Nepal, who is reportedly 51 centimetres (20 inches) high, declared in February that he is the rightful holder of the title.

It’s an exciting time for Khagendra Thapa Magar of Nepal. Not only has he been enjoying a week of celebrations with friends and family ahead of his 18th birthday, which is Wednesday, he’s now eligible to be officially ratified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s smallest man.

The teenager, who stands 2-feet tall and weighs just 10 pounds, is a full head and shoulders shorter than Pingping of China who currently holds the title of the world's smallest man.

But the Guinness title isn’t the only birthday wish Khagendra hopes will come true. He also wants to find a wife.

"I want two things: to be recognized by Guinness and to find a wife who is small like me," Khagendra told the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph.

"When I am officially recognized as the smallest man in the world I expect to get lots of proposals. It is my dream to have four children," he added.

Currently, there is no official title for the smallest teenager, or smallest child, so Guinness told Khagendra he would have to wait for his title until he was old enough, according to the report.

"I am happy now that I am an adult," he said. "I have been waiting for this day for many years. Being small like me is no fun as a boy, but as a man I will be special."







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