Fredie Blom facts for kids

Fredie Blom (born 8 May 1904 – died 22 August 2020) was a man from South Africa who was believed to be one of the oldest people in the world. He was called a supercentenarian, which means someone who lives to be 110 years old or more. Even though many people thought he was the oldest man, his age was never officially confirmed by groups like the Guinness World Records. However, the news in South Africa often spoke of him as the oldest man alive.

Fredie Blom's Long Life

Fredie Blom lived for a very long time, reaching an alleged age of 116 years and 106 days. He spent most of his life working hard. He was a labourer, which means he did physical jobs. He worked on farms and in the construction industry, building things.

Working During Apartheid

Fredie Blom lived through a difficult time in South Africa called apartheid. This was a system where people were treated unfairly because of their race. During this period, he worked first on a farm near Cape Town. Later, he moved into the construction sector, helping to build different structures. He did not learn to read or write, meaning he was illiterate.

A Simple Life and His Habits

In 2018, Fredie Blom spoke to the BBC news channel. He said that there was no special secret to his long life. He mentioned that he enjoyed smoking tobacco. The South African government had given him an identity document that showed his birth date as May 8, 1904. Even with this official document, his age was never officially checked and confirmed by the Guinness World Records.

Fredie Blom passed away on 22 August 2020. He was remembered by many as a symbol of long life in South Africa.