World's shortest

A 2ft 6in teenager has been crowned the world's shortest man. He Pingping, 19, has been written into Guinness World Records as the shortest man alive.

Mr He, from Inner Mongolia, China, could fit into the palm of a hand when he was born, according to his father. He became a cult figure on the internet last year after he appeared on a Japanese television show.

He recently met Bao Xishun – who also hails from Inner Mongolia – but towers over Mr He at 2.41m (7ft 9in).

The former world's shortest man was Nelson De La Rosa, from the Dominican Republic, who measured 72cm (2ft 4in). He died in 2006, aged 38, from heart failure.