Leonid Stadnik's phenomenal height has forced him to quit a job he loved, to stoop as he moves around his house and to spend most of his time in his tiny home village because he cannot fit in a car or bus.

But Mr Stadnik, who Guinness World Records says is the world's tallest human, says his condition has also taught him that the world is filled with kindhearted strangers.

Since his recognition by Ukrainian record keepers four years ago, and by Guinness last year, people from all over Ukraine and the world have shipped him outsized clothing, provided his home with running water and recently presented him with a giant bicycle. He's got a new car now, courtesy of President Viktor Yushchenko.

"Thanks to good people I have shoes and clothes," said the 37-year-old former veterinarian, who still lives with his 66-year-old mother.

In 2006, Mr Stadnik was officially measured at 2.57 metres tall, surpassing a Chinese man to claim the title of the world's tallest person.

His growth spurt began at age 14 after a brain operation that apparently stimulated the overproduction of growth hormone. Doctors say he has been growing ever since.

While he may appear intimidating due to his size, Mr Stadnik charms visitors with a broad grin and childlike laugh. He seems at times like a lonely boy trapped in a giant's body, even keeping stuffed toys on his pillow.

Mr Stadnik's stature has earned him worldwide attention, but it has mostly been a burden to him. He has to battle to lead anything close to a normal life.

All the doorways in his one-story brick house are too short for him to pass through without stooping. His 200 kilograms cause constant knee pain and often force him to move on crutches.

Mr Stadnik loves animals, but he had to quit as a veterinarian at a cattle farm in a nearby village, after suffering frostbite when he walked to work in his socks in winter. He could not afford specially made shoes for his 43-centimetre feet.

But his recent fame has brought him friends from all over the world and taught him not to despair.

A German man who said he was his distant relative invited Mr Stadnik for a visit several years ago. On the trip, Mr Stadnik got to sample frog legs in an elegant restaurant and saw a roller coaster in an amusement park - both for the first time.

Shortly after that, Mr Stadnik came home one day and saw a brand-new computer connected to the Web sitting on his desk - a gift from a local internet provider. Company workers "sneaked into the house like little spies" to install the equipment, he joked.