A video circulating on social media, claiming to show a 188-year-old man rescued from a cave, has garnered over 29 million views, but it has also sparked significant controversy over its authenticity.
The post was shared by the account Concerned Citizen, which suggested that the elderly man was discovered in a cave in India.
In the video, the man is seen walking with assistance from two individuals. The account claimed, “This Indian man has just been found in a cave. It’s alleged he’s 188 years old. Insane.”
Despite the video’s viral status, data verification group D-intent Data has labeled the claims as misleading. They stated, “ANALYSIS: Misleading. FACT: A video of some people helping an elderly individual has been shared, claiming that a 188-year-old Indian man has just been found in a cave.”
According to D-intent Data, the man featured in the video is a Hindu saint known as Siyaram Baba, who resides in Madhya Pradesh. Multiple reports have confirmed this identity, clarifying that the man is approximately 110 years old, not 188.
Acknowledgment of Error
The account that initially shared the video later admitted to the exaggeration, commenting, “I’m embarrassed I even wrote 188. Anything over 120 would have been ridiculous.” The platform X has also attached a disclaimer to the post, stating, “Misinformation! The elderly man is a Hindu saint named Siyaram Baba, who lives in Madhya Pradesh, India. According to reports, he is about 110 years old.”