Audio By Carbonatix
An evergreen pensinoer has defied the odds to celebrate her 105th birthday - despite only being given 12 hours to live when she was born in 1906.
But Lillie Arnold didn't raise a glass to her miraculous achievement - because she puts her incredible old age down to never touching a drop of alcohol.
And the bubbly pensioner has one message for the doctor who almost gave up on her all those years ago: 'Look at me now!'
Lillie, who now lives in the Royal National Institute for the Blind's Kathleen Chambers care home in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, added: 'I was a twin, but sadly my sister didn't make it.
'I was so weak the doctors only gave me half a day to live - I often wonder what that doctor would think now if he saw me.'
Lillie defied medical opinion to reach the grand old age - and is still going strong 919,800 hours on from the shock diagnosis back in 1906.
She has put her miraculous recovery over the years down to living healthily and breathing in the fresh seaside air, having moved to Portsmouth and then Burnham-on-Sea from her native London.
The former waitress's niece, Sylvia Roberts, said: 'She is amazing. She's always been in good health, I can't think of a single time she has been seriously ill. She's so strong and an inspiration to us all.
'Another member of our family lived to 102, so there must be something in the genes that keeps us going past 100.
'She keeps herself occupied, and despite being blind, she continues to support Barnado's by knitting dolls which she sells. She has raised thousands and thousands for them over the year.
'She is quite remarkable and doesn't let anything stop her from helping those less fortunate.'
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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