A 93-year-old Irish man has baffled scientists seeking the secrets of ageing well.

Richard Morgan, from Douglas, Co Cork, was found to have the aerobic ‘engine’ of a healthy 30- or 40-year-old.

Mr Morgan is the subject of a new study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, that examined his training, diet and physiology. It found he has the heart, muscles and lungs of someone less than half his age.

Perhaps the most extraordinary part of his story is that he did not start exercising until he was in his 70s.

He was attending one of his grandchildren’s rowing practice when a coach casually invited him to try out a rowing machine, and he instantly caught the fitness bug.

Since then, he has rowed the equivalent of nearly 10 times around the world and has become a four-time world champion in indoor rowing.

Rather than visiting swanky gyms and taking energy supplements, he trains mostly in his shed and sticks to a simple, healthy and ­“extremely consistent” diet.

His grandson, Lorcan Daly (29), is an assistant professor at the University of Limerick and led the study on his grandfather. Daly said that Morgan’s dedication to rowing and his diet, which includes lots of porridge and vegetables, played a significant role in his exceptional fitness levels.

“It’s very unusual to see someone who starts training so late in life and is able to reach such high levels of performance,” Daly said.

The study also found that Morgan’s muscles had not deteriorated with age, and his heart and lungs were in excellent condition.

“His values are what we would expect to see in a 30- or 40-year-old, not a 93-year-old,” Daly added.

Mr Morgan’s story is a testament to the idea that it’s never too late to start exercising and that consistency in training and diet can have a remarkable impact on one’s health and fitness.