Man ‘blessed’ with world’s longest nose dies: Turkish 75-year-old boasted a 3½-inch snout… and claimed it gave him a ‘special’ sense of smell
- Mehmet Özyürek was awarded the Guinness World Record three times
- He suffered a heart attack last week before he was due to undergo brain surgery
A man with the title of the world’s longest nose has died suddenly at the age of 75.
Mehmet Özyürek, of Turkey, claimed the prize three times over the course of two decades, with judges ruling that his nose measured 8.8 cm (3.46 in) from bridge to tip – equivalent to the length of a playing card.
Hugely proud of his record-breaking ‘special trait’, he also claimed that his sense of smell was ‘different’ from others.
According to local media reports, the record breaker fell ill last week and suffered a heart attack before undergoing brain surgery.
The Turkish newspaper Mynet reported that the funeral of Mr. Özyürek has already taken place in the city of Artvin, in northeastern Turkey.
Mehmet Özyürek, of Turkey, claimed the prize three times over the course of two decades, with judges ruling that his nose measured 8.8 cm (3.46 in) from bridge to tip – equivalent to the length of a playing card. Pictured in Turkey in April 2014
Hugely proud of his record-breaking “special ability,” he claimed his sense of smell was “different” from others. Guinness World Records measured his nose once in 2001 in LA, again in 2010 in Italy and for the last time in 2021, confirming that his record remains untouchable. Pictured in Italy in 2010
According to local media reports, the record breaker fell ill last week and suffered a heart attack before undergoing brain surgery. The Turkish newspaper Mynet reported that the funeral of Mr. Özyürek has already taken place in the city of Artvin, in northeastern Turkey. Pictured in Turkey in April 2014
His son Barış reportedly said, “I sincerely thank the people of Artvin and their fans. We are in pain,” the newspaper said.
“My father was very kind-hearted, he tried not to offend anyone. My father was not only at peace with his nose, he was at peace with his life.
Guinness World Records measured his nose once in 2001 in LA, again in 2010 in Italy and for the last time in 2021, confirming that his record remains untouchable.
Speaking to the 2021 Guinness World Records, Mr Özyürek said, “I love it, this position. The world likes it, Guinness World Records likes it of course, my wife likes it too.’
He added: ‘My sense of smell is different from other people’s.
‘I say ‘there’s a smell in here’. Other people say ‘we don’t smell that smell’. I say, ‘you may not smell it, but I do’.
He understood that his record-breaking long nose was caused by a “genetic disorder.”
Studies have previously suggested that nostril width may be linked to two genes – GLI3 and PAX1 – while the gene, RUNX2, affects nasal bridge width.
Mr Özyürek told Guinness World Records: ‘It’s a genetic disorder from what I understand.
“There was no statement from doctors, but I have it in my family, so my father has it, my uncles have it, I have it.”
However, his children do not seem to have inherited his long nose.
He said, “My friends used to call me Big Nose to upset me.
“God made me like this, there is nothing that can be done in this situation. I’ve learned to live in peace with my physique.
“I am very excited to represent Turkey, the Black Sea or Artvin on an international scale.
He added: “Some become martyrs, some become prime ministers and some become record holders.”
It is not known who will now claim the title of the world’s longest nose.