Turkish Man ‘Blessed’ With the World’s Longest Nose Dies
A Turkish man awarded the title of having the world’s longest nose has died. Adjudicators ruled Mehmet Özyürek’s nose was 8.8cm (3.46in) from the bridge to tip — equivalent to the length of a playing card. Immensely proud of his ‘special feature’, the 75-year-old also boasted that he could smell scents that family and friends could not.
According to local media reports, Mr Özyürek fell ill last week and suffered a heart attack before he was due to undergo brain surgery. Turkish newspaper Mynet reported his funeral in the city of Artvin, in the northeast of Turkey, has already taken place.
His son Barış reportedly said: ‘I sincerely thank the people of Artvin and their fans. We have pain. My father was very kind-hearted, he tried not to offend anyone. My father was not only at peace with his nose, but he was also at peace with his life.’
Guinness World Records measured his nose once in 2001 in LA, again in 2010 in Italy and for a final time in 2021, to confirm his record remains untouchable. Speaking to the Guinness World Records in 2021, Mr Özyürek, said: ‘I love it, this feature. The world likes it, Guinness World Records likes it, of course, my wife likes it too.’
He added at the time: ‘My sense of smell is different from other people. I say “There is a smell here”. Other people say “We don’t smell that smell”. I say, “You may not smell it but I can”. He understood his long nose was caused by a ‘genetic condition’. ‘There was no explanation by doctors, but I have it in my family, so my father has it, my uncles have it, I have it,’ Mr Özyürek said before his death.
His children have not appeared to have inherited his long nose, however. 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 learned to live in peace with my physique. I am extremely pleased 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 unknown who will now claim the title of the world’s longest nose.
