World's Tallest Man Towers 9'6": How Did He Grow This Tall?

Sulemana Abdul Samed, a 29-year-old man living in northern Ghana, has reportedly been measured at a height of 9 feet 6 inches (2.89 meters) during a recent check-up at a local hospital. If true, this would make him the tallest man in the world. However, the hospital was unable to confirm the accuracy of this measurement due to a lack of proper measuring tools. Samed has been diagnosed with gigantism, and he regularly visits the hospital to manage the challenges of living as a giant. During a recent appointment, he was asked to stand against a measuring rod and was given the nickname "Awuche," which means "Let's Go" in Hausa.

Samed was not surprised to learn that he was tall as he has never stopped growing. However, the staff at the hospital were not prepared to measure someone of his height and were unsure of how to proceed. They called for additional help and eventually decided to use a pole as an extension to their measuring stick to estimate his height. This is how they arrived at their estimate of 9 feet 6 inches.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, gigantism is a rare condition that occurs when a child or adolescent has high levels of growth hormone in their body, leading to excessive height. It is also known as pediatric acromegaly or pituitary gigantism. The pituitary gland normally produces growth hormone, but a tumor on the gland can cause excess production of the hormone in gigantism. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent excessive height and other complications. Gigantism is treatable, but it is crucial to catch it early to effectively manage the condition.

How Did He Grow?

Awuche is taller than most of the houses in his neighborhood. To measure his height, they had to search for a building with a high enough wall. He took off his shoes, which are large slip-ons made from car tires and put together by a local handyman because he cannot find shoes that fit him. One of his neighbors climbed up on a wooden stool to reach Samed's height and marked the wall with a piece of charcoal. After verifying the line, they used a measuring tape to measure the distance from the marked line on the wall to the ground while Samed watched with anticipation.

Awuche was told that he was barely one foot taller than the current Guinness World Record holder for the tallest man alive, who is 8 feet 2.8 inches tall. Despite this, Samed is still growing and he remarked that he might one day reach that height. He explained that he grows every three to four months and that if someone hasn't seen him in that period and then sees him again they would notice that he has grown taller.

He began to grow taller at the age of 22 while living in the capital city of Accra. He had moved there after finishing secondary school to work at a butcher shop and save money to attend driving school. One morning, he woke up feeling confused because his tongue had grown so much that it was blocking his airway. Excess growth hormone (GH) stimulates the development of muscles, bones, and connective tissue in gigantism. This causes an unnatural height in addition to several soft tissue abnormalities. Some persons with gigantism sometimes grow to be beyond 8 feet tall when left undiagnosed or uncontrolled, as per Mayo Clinic.

Gigantic Height

After visiting a local pharmacy for medication, Samed realized that every other part of his body had also started to increase in size. When family and friends from his village visited the city, they all commented on his sudden growth spurt, and it was at this point that he realized he was gradually turning into a giant. His growth has caused him to tower over others and has also led to other complications, including an abnormally curved spine due to Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the body's connective tissues and causes abnormally long limbs. In addition to these complications, Samed has also developed heart defects and requires a surgical procedure in his brain to stop the growth.

Samed's healthcare costs are not covered by Ghana's public insurance, which only provides the basic treatment. He must raise approximately $50 for each hospital visit. His health problems eventually forced him to return to his home village and give up his dream of becoming a driver, as he is unable to reach the steering wheel or pedals in a car. He now lives with his brother and makes a living by selling mobile phone credits. His height has also limited his ability to participate in activities such as playing football and walking short distances.

Samed's priority is to raise money for plastic surgery to address a serious skin condition on his leg, ankle, and foot that has been caused by the excess growth of his limb. Despite this and his other health problems, he remains positive and says he does not have a problem with the way that God created him, as reported by BBC.

Check out more news and information on Gigantism on Science Times.