He survived decades on rotting roadkill and smoking animal feces, but his first shower in six decades proved to be his last.

An Iranian hermit dubbed the “World’s Dirtiest Man” passed away at the age of 94 in October 2022. His name was Amou Haji, and his life story gained global attention.

Key Facts About Amou Haji’s Story

• Decades Without Washing: Amou Haji lived in the southern Iranian province of Fars and had refrained from bathing with soap or water for over 60 years. He avoided water out of a fear that getting clean would make him ill or bring him bad luck.

• Extreme Lifestyle: He lived as a recluse in a cinder-block shack or a dugout in the ground. His diet consisted mostly of roadkill—particularly rotting porcupines—and he frequently smoked dried animal feces out of an old pipe alongside standard cigarettes.

• Origin of His Choice: Local villagers reported that his extreme retreat from society began following emotional setbacks and trauma in his youth.

• The Final Bath: A few months prior to his death, local villagers persuaded him to take a shower for the first time in over six decades.

• His Death: He fell ill shortly after the wash and died at age 94 on October 23, 2022. While viral headlines highlighted the irony of his passing after taking a bath, health professionals noted that his advanced age, combined with a sudden shift in his long-standing microbial exposure and environment, likely coincided with natural health decline.