LONDON, Dec 9: A 116-year-old Ecuadorean woman was declared the oldest person in the world on Friday, lifting the title from a US woman previously thought to be the oldest person alive, Guinness World Records said.

Maria Esther Capovilla was confirmed as the oldest living person after her family sent details of her birth and marriage certificates to Guinness World Records.

“We only told her yesterday she was the new Guinness world record holder,” Kate White, brand manager at the records publisher said. “We hadn’t heard of her before.”

“She’s in very good health, she’s got good sight, is able to read the papers and watch television, and doesn’t walk with a stick,” Kate White added.

Capovilla was born in Guayaqull, western Ecuador, on Sept 14, 1889, and lives there today with her daughter-in-law and son.

She had five children, and has four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Her husband died in 1949.

White said Capovilla had been asked what she thought about the changes she had seen over her life.

“She said she disliked the fact that presently it’s acceptable for women to pursue men. And she said that every day she thanks God that she’s alive,” White said.

As a girl at the turn of the century one of Capovilla’s favourite pastimes was going to parties, where she never drank alcohol.

Elizabeth Bolden, from Memphis, Tennessee, born Aug. 15, 1890, had previously been regarded as the oldest living person.—Reuters