A GIANT dubbed the world’s tallest man towers over the houses in his village – and even wears shoes made out of tyres.
Sulemana Abdul Samed, 29, has been growing at an extraordinary rate for years – and at a recent check-up, he was told he had reached a whopping height of 9ft 6in.
But the rural clinic in Ghana couldn’t be sure of his true height as they didn’t have the correct measuring tools.
Estimates of his height have ranged from 6ft to more than 9ft – and he said he’s still growing.
His genetic condition – Marfan syndrome – comes with health issues, but nonetheless has made him a celebrity in his home country.
Diagnosed with gigantism a few years ago, elderly people say hello, children wave, and women come up for hugs from the “friendly giant”.
And strangers approach Sulemana and ask to take selfies with him.
He told the BBC: “I usually will say: ‘Yes come closer’ – we stand and take nice pictures.”
Sulemana has not stopped growing his entire life – even his shoes have to be custom made out of car tyres by a local handyman in his village of Gambaga.
He first noticed the abnormal growth when he was 22, and his tongue had expanded so he couldn’t breathe.
As the days went on, the rest of his body began growing too, and hasn’t stopped.
When friends and family visited Accra, where he was living at the time, they would all comment in his massive growth spurt.
And he soon realised he was turning into a giant, towering over everyone with abnormally long limbs.
Doctors have told him he needs brain surgery to stop the rapid growth and help improve his health conditions – such as his curved spine.
His deteriorating health eventually forced him to return to his home village and give up his dreams of becoming a driver.
He now lives with his brother – and earns a living by running a small business selling mobile phone credits.
Though he was diagnosed with gigantism years ago, doctors in his village have struggled to find measuring equipment big enough to measure Sulemana’s gargantuan height.
That’s when BBC reporter Favour Nunu stepped in with a 16ft measuring tape.
Sulemana was pleased with the new plan and said: “The way they measure me, I cannot say everything is perfect.”
After measuring him, the verdict was in – he was 7ft 4in.
Sulemana was not deterred and said: “I’m still growing tall. Who knows, maybe one day I may get to that height too.
“Every three months of four months I grow… if you’ve not seen me for three months or four and you see me, you’d realised I have increased.”
The 29-year-old said he dreams of getting married and having children – but first he said he’s focusing on raising funds for the surgery he needs to improve his health.
