{
  "id": 2388988,
  "title": "At 117, world’s oldest person is still collecting firsts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/at-117-worlds-oldest-person-is-still-collecting-firsts-2388988",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-21T13:26:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/08/21/at-117-world-s-oldest-person-is-still-collecting-firsts"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At 117, Ethel Caterham continues to make history as the world's oldest living person. Born in 1909, she has experienced numerous significant events throughout her life, including two world wars, the Russian Revolution, and the rise of the internet. At a recent celebration of her birthday, she expressed excitement about the \"firsts\" she has experienced this year, such as stroking a llama and holding hands with King Charles III. Caterham's remarkable journey began when she arrived in India at the age of 18 to work as an au pair for a military family. After returning to Britain, she met her future husband, Norman, and the couple went on to have two daughters, both of whom passed away before her. Norman served as a lieutenant colonel in the British Army and was stationed overseas, leading to the family living in various locations, including Gibraltar and Hong Kong, where Caterham established a nursery school. Throughout her life, Caterham has maintained an independent spirit, driving until she was 97 and participating in games of contract bridge even after turning 100. She survived Covid-19 in 2020 at the age of 110, a testament to her resilience. As of now, she holds the record for the oldest living person, surpassing the previous record held by Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who lived to the age of 122.",
  "summary": "Ethel Caterham has lived through two world wars and survived Covid at 110 - and she still looks forward to what comes next.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}