He Pingping | World's shortest man

He Pingping, the world's shortest man, died Saturday in Italy, where he was to take part in a TV show, the program's production company said. He was in his 20s and lived in China.

Mr. He, who was 2 feet, 5.37 inches tall, had become a recognized figure across the world, often taking part in shows and other events, Guinness World Records said.

Craig Glenday, the Guinness editor-in-chief, said Mr. He was "an inspiration to anyone considered different or unusual."

Guinness said Mr. He was born in 1988 with a form of primordial dwarfism. He was officially measured in March 2008. Mr. He was taken to a hospital March 3 after he fell ill while rehearsing the Italian program The Record Show, Marco Fernandez de Araoz of Europroduzione said. After two days, Mr. He was transferred to intensive care, where he was found to have a heart condition and high cholesterol.

Officials at the hospital said the cause of death was the heart condition. His body will be flown back to China. - AP