On December 5th 2013, South Africa and the whole world grieved the loss of a supreme political leader. Assiduous in his fight against oppression, Nelson Mandela endured decades in prison to see his country free at last. In his devotion to the freedom of his people and rout of apartheid, Mandela grew to be an international symbol of victory over diversity and the world’s most recognizable human rights believer of the 20th century. Here are 10 great facts you might want to know about Nelson Mandela.
#10 – Nelson Mandela Died of a Chronic Lung Illness
Nelson Mandela was 95 years old when he died on December 5, 2013 from a recurring lung infection. The former president was admitted into a hospital in July mainly because his chronic infection persisted. He was extremely susceptible to respiratory problems after he contracted tuberculosis during his 27 years spent in prison. In 2001, Nelson Mandela was treated for prostate cancer and he managed to survive, and at the World Cup in 2010 it was the last time he appeared in public.