Sailor George Mendonsa in iconic VJ Day kiss photo dies aged 95

A sailor and a woman kiss in New York’s Times Square as people celebrate the end of the Second World War Credit: Victor Jorgensen/US navy

The ecstatic sailor famously pictured kissing a woman in Times Square celebrating the end of the Second World War has died aged 95.

George Mendonsa’s daughter Sharon Molleur told The Providence Journal her father fell and had a seizure at the assisted living facility in Middletown, Rhode Island, where he lived with his wife of 70 years.

Mr Mendonsa was shown kissing Greta Zimmer Friedman, a dental assistant in a nurse’s uniform, on August 14 1945.

Known as VJ Day, it was the day Japan surrendered to the United States.

The image by Alfred Eisenstaedt became one of the most famous photographs of the 20th century.

It was years before Mr Mendonsa and Ms Friedman were confirmed to be the couple.

Ms Friedman died in 2016 at the age of 92.

Mr Mendonsa died two days before his 96th birthday.