Oldest Swiss passes away at 109

The oldest person in Switzerland has died at the age of 109. Pierre Gremion died in his sleep at a nursing home in canton Fribourg on Monday morning.

Gremion had been living at the care facility in Broc for about three years; prior to that he ran his own household in Bulle before health problems required him to move.

In Bulle he had worked in a shop selling home goods. An enthusiastic hobby photographer, his work and life story were featured in a book published in 2008.

On March 5 he would have turned 110. For his 109th birthday last year, the local authorities presented him with 110 bottles of wine.

Gremion apparently had good genes; both a brother and sister also lived to be nearly 100.