Guinness World Records is saddened to learn that Mehmet Özyürek, the proud owner of the world’s longest nose, has died at the age of 75.
Mehmet from Türkiye was known and loved for his joie de vivre and often talked about how he was “blessed” to have a record-breaking nose.
He was awarded the title longest nose on a living person (male) three times: the first time in 2001 Guinness World Records: Primetime in Los Angeles, again in 2010 on the set of Lo Show dei Record in Italy and a final time in 2021.
@guinnessworldrecords Longest nose 👃 8.8 cm (3.46 in) – Mehmet Özyürek 🇹🇷
♬ original sound – Guinness World Records
Each time it measured 8.8 cm (3.46 in) from the bridge to the tip, which is the length of a playing card.
Mehmet’s loved ones said an emotional goodbye to him as they laid him to rest in his hometown of Artvin.
The record breaker fell ill and suffered a heart attack before undergoing surgery last week.
Doctors intervened but were tragically unable to save him.
Mynet reports that his son Barış said: “I sincerely thank the people of Artvin and their fans. We are in pain. My father was very kind-hearted, he did not try to offend anyone. My father was not only at peace with his nose, he was at peace with his life.”
Mehmet was always incredibly proud of his nose and its sniffing abilities.
He told us in 2021: “My sense of smell is different from other people.
“I say ‘there’s a smell here’. Other people say ‘we don’t smell that smell’. I say ‘you might not smell it, but I can’.
“For example, I walk into my house…I can immediately see what dish has been prepared.”
Mehmet said his distinctive large nose was a family trait, but the cause was never known.
“I have such a special function,” Mehmet said.
“I love it, this feature. The world likes it, Guinness World Records likes it, of course my wife likes it too!
“It’s a genetic condition, as far as I understand. There was no explanation from the doctors, but I have it in my family, so my father has it, my uncles have it, I have it.”
However, the trait did not continue down the family tree past Mehmet.
He has always had love for his unique feature, even though he was cruelly teased about it in his younger years.
“My friends used to call me Big Nose to upset me,” he said.
“But I look at myself. That’s when I looked in the mirror – I discovered myself.
“God made me this way, there is nothing that can be done in this situation. I learned to live at peace with my physique.”
He told us that his arrival in any room would attract immediate attention, but that it did not bother him one bit.
“Of course I love my nose… I’ve been blessed,” Mehmet said proudly.
“I am extremely happy to represent Türkiye, the Black Sea or Artvin on an international level.
“Some become martyrs, some become prime ministers and some become record holders.”
Rest in peace, Mehmet.
