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He Pingping, the world’s smallest man who stood just over two feet five inches tall, has died at the age of 21. Mr He, who was 29 inches tall (74.61cm), suffered chest pains while taking part in a television show in Rome. He was taken to hospital but died on Saturday from what is believed to be heart complications.
Born in the northern Chinese region of Inner Mongolia, Mr He had a form of primordial dwarfism. His father He Yun had reportedly said that when Mr He was born he was small enough to fit into his parent’s hands.
Mr He was officially recognised as the world’s smallest man by the Guinness World Records in 2008.
Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of the London-based Guinness World Records, recalled measuring Mr He in Inner Mongolia in 2008.
"For such a small man, he made a huge impact around the world," Mr 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 brightened up the lives of everyone he met, and was an inspiration to anyone considered different or unusual."
Mr He regularly travelled around the world to promote the Guinness World Records with other record holders. In September, 2008, Mr He visited London where he was photographed alongside Svetlana Pankratova, the woman with the longest legs for the launch of the 2009 Guinness World Records book. Earlier this year he travelled to Istanbul to launch of the Guinness World Records live roadshow, where he posed alongside the world’s tallest man, Sultan Kösen, who stands at 8 ft 1 in (246.5 cm).
His trip to Italy this month was to film an appearance on the records show Lo Show Dei Record. He reportedly began to feel ill two weeks ago when he was taken to hospital by production staff, however Mr He passed away on Saturday.
Guinness World Records said it would announce Mr He's successor as the world's shortest man in due course.
Khagendra Thapa Magar, 18, from Nepal, who is reportedly 20 inches (51cm) high, declared in February that he is the rightful holder of the title.
