Dede Koswara, dubbed in international media as the 'Tree Man' died on the morning of Jan. 30 in Badung, Indonesia at the Hasan Sadikin hospital.
Koswara had the extremely rare disease Lewandowsky-Lutz dysplasia, which leads to uncontrolled human papilloma virus (HPV) infections, and growth of scaly warts, or cutaneous horns, resembling tree bark.
Koswara's disease gave him international fame. Several documentaries were made about his conditions.
His disease was brutal. The warts, weighing around 13 lbs, were severely incapacitating. His hands and feet were notably devoured by them, and he had to let go of his job as a carpenter.
His wife and children also left him after he couldn't provide for them, and Koswara remained estranged from them till he died.
His nurse said, reported the Daily Mail UK, that he never gave up hope for a cure, and of returning to carpentry again. He also thought about starting a home business.
In 2008, he had a successful surgery for the removal of the warts. It was a success - he could wear flip flops and play Sudoku. But the growths continued to return and he needed two surgeries a year to keep the infections at bay.
His medical condition was locally believed to be the product of a curse. One of his doctors acknowledged how tough Koswara must have been to endure the insults over the years.
Koswara's cause of death was reportedly health complications, including hepatitis, liver and gastric disorders. His nurse said that he was bored from resting in bed at the hospital and smoked to pass the time.
Koswara had been in a coma for three days at the hospital in west Java before he died. His sister said he had been so weak he couldn't speak or feed himself.
Those treating Koswara said he never gave up hope.
