'World's dirtiest man' who 'smoked dung' and 'ate roadkill' dies aged 94 after taking first bath in 50 years

25 October 2022, 16:33

Amou Haji
Amou Haji. Picture: Getty

By Kit Heren

A man labelled 'the world's dirtiest' has died aged 94 after taking his first bath in more than half a century, according to reports.

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Iranian man Amou Haji had avoided eating fresh food and washing because he was afraid of falling ill and incurring bad luck, according to local news agency IRNA.

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He has previously said that he chose this way of life after experiencing "emotional setbacks" as a young man.

Amou Haji
Amou Haji. Picture: Getty

Mr Haji, who was reportedly unmarried and had unusual habits like smoking five cigarettes at once, eating rotten roadkill and smoking animal dung in a pipe, lived in the remote village of Dejgah in the southern province of Fars.

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"A few months ago, villagers had taken him to a bathroom to wash," IRNA reported.“Not long after, he fell ill and finally, on Sunday… he gave up his life.”

Amou Haji
Amou Haji. Picture: Getty

Villagers had reportedly taken him to wash out of concern that he was lonely and hoping that cleaning him would help him find a female companion.

He had reportedly become an object of curiosity for locals, with people posting videos of him online.

Amou Haji
Amou Haji. Picture: Getty

Villagers had also built a cinder block hut for Mr Haji, who had previously slept in a hole in the ground.

Despite his unorthodox habits - which also reportedly included drinking five litres of water a day collected from puddles - he had been in good health.

Amou Haji smoking his waterpipe
Amou Haji smoking his waterpipe. Picture: Getty

A team of doctors from Iranian capital Tehran visited him earlier this year and found that he was only suffering from a bacteria infection called trichinosis, from eating raw meat.

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They believed that his health was strong because his lifestyle had helped him develop an extremely effective immune system.

A documentary was made about him in 2013 called 'The Strange Life of Amou Haji'.

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