[An4ximandros]

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23026780
 http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/06/24/wrd-nelson-mandela-health-critical.html
 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/25/world/africa/nelson-mandela.html?_r=0

 For the unaware, he's an important proponent of Ubuntu. And had an important role in the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa.

[Mongoose]

You know it's only a matter of time when someone reaches that age, but it'll still be a massive loss if this is indeed his time to go.

[Dilmah G]

Dear God, I hope the average age of HLP hasn't dropped such that we actually needed to have that in the OP to stop people asking who he was.

Irrespective of that, what Mongoose said. It's still pretty incredible that someone locked up for 30 odd years managed to live this long, notwithstanding everything else he did.

[Dragon]

Indeed. Quite an incredible man. It'd be a shame if he died, but I guess that everybody has to go someday.

Relevant: you may want to listen to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtgRFW3e15U
The Corrie Folk Trio recorded this song when Mandela was in prison, and, as the rumor goes, somebody actually delivered it to him, and he listened to it while on Robben Island.

[karajorma]

I'll take this opportunity to suggest people who don't know the history of how he was released, watch Endgame.

He will indeed be a sad loss to the world.

[headdie]

hope he pulls through.

though if his time is now I hope it is peaceful and dignified, because if any living world leader deserves it, he is defiantly that person.