On his 18th birthday, he is officially measured and recognised as the World’s Shortest Man, taking the title from Edward “Niño” Hernandez.

Guinness World Records, the global authority on record breaking, yesterday confirmed the new world’s shortest man as 67.08 cm Khagendra Thapa Magar from Nepal, who previously held the record of shortest teenager.

The news comes only five weeks after Guinness World Records recognised Colombia’s Edward “Niño” Hernandez as the record holder, which makes his reign the shortest in history.

Weighing 5.5 kilos, Mr Khagendra works with his parents in their fruit shop. He enjoys watching karate shows on television and dancing to traditional Nepalese music. On being announced the new shortest living man, he said: “I don’t consider myself to be a small man. I’m a big man. I hope that having this title enables me to prove it and get a proper house for me and my family.”

Edward “Niño” Hernandez, on being informed that he had lost his title, said: “I’ve greatly enjoyed being the shortest man in the world for a while and I have been very proud of it.

“Records will always be broken and I am very happy to pass the title to Mr Khagendra. I hope we can meet one day in person!”

Edward “Niño” Hernandez and Khagendra Thapa Magar are included in the Guinness World Records 2011 edition which is out now.

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