No photos, no references: could be a man with the same name. And he's 87 years old, I'm sorry but he can be senile, without evidences, this article IMHO is only a clickbait example.
I think this is the most likely explanation, and where I'd put my money. I'll admit if he pranked me (as a fellow prankster, that would be a good one).
But still, the slim odds times infinity makes this a story worth spreading so we can get eyes on it and put it to bed fast.