Felipe Birriel, a.k.a. "El Gigante de Carolina" (The Giant from Carolina) (August 16, 1916-March 15, 1994), born in Carolina, Puerto Rico is considered to have been the tallest Puerto Rican ever at 7'11".
Felipe was the son of Pedro and Dionisia Birriel. He was the oldest of six siblings. He only attended up to second grade in school. As a child, Felipe was sent to the farm fields where he helped his parents plant vegatables and seeds. He worked in the fields picking fruits and coffee beans and as a waterboy, delievering water to the sugar cane workers.
In 1922, when Felipe was 16 years old, he started to grow at an alarming rate. He felt sick with dizzy spells and weakness and went to visit a doctor. The doctor informed Felipe that for some unknown reason, his pituitary gland had turned into a tumor. Even though the condition did not have a known cure, it was still treatable.
The treatment required a radio therapy machine which could only be found in the United States. The machine was sent for in 1932 but, it wasn't until 1941, nine years later that it finally arrived in Puerto Rico.
Felipe resided with his brother and sister-in-law in Carolina. He became something of a folkhero and dearly known as "El Gigante de Carolina" (The Giant of Carolina). The Government of Puerto Rico and local businessmen helped him economicaly and with his daily needs. The owners of local furniture stores had special furniture made for Felipe. His health however, continued to worsen at a progressive rate.
Felipe Birriel died on March 15, 1994, at the age of 77, in Carolina, Puerto Rico of a heart attack.
Carolina where Puerto Ricans such as Roberto Clemente, Julia de Burgos and Jesus T. Piñero were born, is also known as the "City of the Giants" in honor of Felipe. The BSN basketball team of Carolina is called "Los Gigantes de Carolina' (The Carolina Giants). Carolina has dedicated a museum to the memory of Felipe and has named a street "El Paseo Felipe Birriel".
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