London, April 20 (Reuters): Norris McWhirter, who founded Guinness World Records with his twin brother and turned the book into a global bestseller, has died aged 78, a spokesman said today.

McWhirter suffered a heart attack yesterday after playing tennis at his home in southwest England, the spokesman said.

The London-born son of a newspaper director, McWhirter was a writer, sports commentator and athlete but will best be remembered for co-founding the Guinness Book of Records — now known as Guinness World Records — in 1955. Ross was assassinated by the IRA in 1975 for his opinions on the situation in Northern Ireland.