The world's oldest person at the age of 115, Emiliano Mercado del Toro, has died after suffering from fever and breathing problems in his Puerto Rico home.

Del Toro also nicknamed "Don Emiliano," was suppose to turn 116 this August but had seemed to lose the will to live, according to family.

"He had asthma overnight and died in the morning," said his niece Tomasita Ruiz.

"Sometimes he would shout that he no longer wanted to live. He was tired of living," Ruiz said.

Del Toro was born on August 21, 1891 and was exactly 115 years, five months and three days old when he passed away.

He was awarded as the oldest man in the world in January 2005 by the The Guinness World Records book. He then became the world's oldest person last December after the death of the American woman, Elizabeth Bolden at 116.

He also has the distinction of being the oldest non-combat veteran in the world, although he was enlisted for World War I he never brought into action.

Next in line as the oldest person in the world is the American woman, Emma Tillman at 114 years old. She was a former maid of Hollywood icon Katharine Hepburn and the offspring of freed black slaves.