'World's oldest person' dies aged 117 after sharing sobering final message

The 'world's oldest person', Maria Branyas, has died aged 117 after sharing a sobering final message.

Maria Branyas was born in San Francisco on 4 March, 1907 to a Catalan family before they moved to the United States.

However, just a few years later, her mother decided to return to their home country.

Ms Branyas once recalled the journey which took place back in 1914 when the world was at war.

Speaking with Catalan News in 2019, she recalled: "We came here on a boat. Because of the war, Germany was still attacking the North, and you couldn’t go through the Nordic seas, but we could go further down, through the Azores and Cuba.

"In 1914 I was already a bit aware [of what was happening]."

Remembering both world wars, she added: "They were very harmful in Europe, but they also brought some advances."

The news of Ms Branyas' death was confirmed on Tuesday (20 August), with her family writing on X: "Maria Branyas has left us. She has gone the way she wanted: in her sleep, at peace, and without pain."

They also shared her final message which reads: "One day I will leave here. I will not try coffee again, nor eat yogurt, nor caress the Fairy..., I will also leave my memories, my reflections..."

In a follow-up tweet, the message translated from Spanish continued: "And I will cease to exist in this body.

"One day I don't know, but it's very close, this long journey will be over. Death will find me worn out from having lived so long, but I want it to find me smiling, free and satisfied."

The family finished up the announcement, adding: "We will always remember her for her advice and kindness."

At the time of her death, Ms Branyas was living in a nursing home in Catalan town of Olot.

In November last year, scientist Manel Esteller told Spanish news outlet ABC that Ms Branyas had a 'completely lucid head' despite her old age.

"She remembers with impressive clarity events from when she was only four years old, and she does not present any cardiovascular disease, common in elderly people," he added.

"It is clear that there is a genetic component because there are several members of her family who are over 90 years old."

The Gerontology Research Group, which validates details of people thought to be 110 or older, listed Ms Branyas as the oldest known person in the world after the death of French nun Lucile Randon last year aged 118.

According to the Gerontology Research Group, the next oldest person listed is Tomiko Itooka, from Japan, who is 116.