Newsmakers

A 97-year-old man in California, identified only as Vito, died at his own birthday party shortly after dancing to the Bee Gees' iconic disco hit 'Stayin' Alive'. The unusual coincidence has left social media users stunned, with a video of his final dance going viral online.

Vito was celebrating his 97th birthday at a Halloween-themed party in Los Angeles last week. The celebration was organised with the help of his 24-year-old neighbour, Eden Malinoff, a local baker who also runs a cake and cookie business.

Malinoff shared videos of the celebration on TikTok on November 2, showing Vito dressed in a black button-down shirt and trousers, smiling, clapping and enthusiastically dancing to the 1977 Bee Gees classic.

What Happened At The Birthday Party?
According to Malinoff, Vito was known for his lively personality and love for celebrations. Despite being nearly a century old, he regularly spent time with her friend group, which mostly consisted of people in their 20s and 30s.

For his special occasion, Malinoff prepared a red wine chocolate cake. She also recalled asking Vito about the secret to his long life.

His amusing response was that people should "never drink cheap liquor".

However, the celebrations took an unexpected turn shortly after guests sang 'Happy Birthday' to him. Vito passed away that night, surrounded by his close friends.

In her social media post, Malinoff described his passing as a "dramatic exit".

"Unfortunately, the night did not end as anticipated and Vito made a dramatic exit. But if there's any way he could have chosen to go out it would have been like this," she wrote.

She added that he was surrounded by people he loved and that they were celebrating his long and fulfilling life.

Friend Confirms His Death, Reveals Medical Issues
Vito's best friend also confirmed his death in a social media comment, revealing that the 97-year-old had some underlying medical issues whose severity was not known to those around him. The friend said Vito passed away peacefully with his favourite music playing, shortly after everyone had celebrated his birthday. Malinoff also clarified that Vito was not intoxicated and that his death was an unexpected incident. Social Media Reacts To His Final Dance
The video of Vito dancing to 'Stayin' Alive' has attracted millions of views, with social media users reacting to the unusual coincidence between the song's title and the circumstances of his death.

While some described it as an unforgettable and rather ironic final dance, others said they could only hope to spend their final moments surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Many also praised Vito for continuing to enjoy life and celebrate despite his age.

His final dance has become a poignant reminder of a man who appeared determined to enjoy every moment of life.