A man believed to be the tallest in the world has died from illness related to his unusual rate of growth in Ban Takaeo village in the Prasat district of Thailand.

P0*nchai Saosri, whose height — 2m 69cm — was never verified, died aged 26 in his home surrounded by family. The giant battled a variety of illnesses, including hypertension that made him unable to stand straight.

When his condition deteriorated P0*nchai was taken to hospital, where he was treated for a week and then discharged. He was fondly nicknamed ‘Oaf’ by his relatives who cared for him till the last days of his life.

P0*nachai was surrounded with love of his father Saran, 60, his mother Mrs Woen, 56, and their 15-year-old granddaughter. Mrs Woen had found her son dead in the morning on November 9.

Before P0*nchai’s death the locals donated 110,000 baht (around N610,800) to the family for his medical bills. The remaining sum of money will be used to pay for his funeral.

Sultan Kösen currenlty holds the Guinness World Record for tallest living male at 251 centimetres. His growth resulted from a tumour affecting his pituitary gland. He also lives with his parents and uses crutches in order to walk.