Oldest Aussie turns 113 and swaps messages with world’s only older man in incredible shared birthday coincidence
Ken Weeks marked his 113th birthday in Grafton, New South Wales, on 5 October and exchanged birthday messages with João Marinho Neto, who turned 114 that day. The two men are recognised as the world’s oldest and second-oldest living men, making their shared birthday a rare coincidence.
Weeks has lived in the Northern Rivers region for more than a century and moved into aged care in 2018, shortly before his 105th birthday. He worked in construction and ran small businesses; his family describes him as kind and industrious, and says he neither drank nor smoked. LongeviQuest recognises Neto as the oldest living man and Weeks as the second-oldest.
- Ken Weeks celebrated his 113th birthday on 5 October.
- He exchanged birthday messages with 114-year-old João Marinho Neto.
- They are recognised as the world’s two oldest living men.
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Ken Weeks from New South Wales, Australia, and João Marinho Neto are the world's oldest and second-oldest living men. Weeks is 113 years old and Neto is 114.
The coincidence at the heart of this story is that both men were born on the same date: 5 October. For individuals who have lived to such extraordinary ages, sharing a birthday is an exceptionally rare occurrence.
Weeks has spent over a century living in Australia's Northern Rivers region, where he worked in construction and ran small businesses during his career. He moved into aged care in 2018 at the age of 105 and is remembered by family as industrious and kind-hearted.