World's fattest man is too heavy for life-saving surgery

Monday, 9 November 2009 , Posted by Ed Allen at 07:45

Paul Mason, the world’s fattest man, may be unable to have a life-saving NHS surgical operation now that it is feared he may have put on even more weight.

Mr Mason, 48, was 70 stone (approx 444kg) a few weeks ago and at that time was still capable of receiving care from the NHS. However it is feared that since then he may have piled on sufficient extra pounds to make him too large for the extra large stretcher and reinforced ambulance that has been prepared to carry him into hospital.

Mr Mason has a compulsive eating disorder and cannot move from his bed yet urgently requires surgery at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, West Sussex. Unfortunately for Mr Mason the special stretchers used to carry obese patients in bariatric ambulances can carry only up to 71 and a half stone.

St John Ambulance Suffolk operations manager Keith Hotchkiss said: "There is no stretcher currently manufactured in the world which is capable of safely carrying anyone heavier. If a patient weighs more than 71 and a half stone, it means that we are unable to move them”.

NHS Suffolk has orginially intended to airlift Mr Mason to hospital but swiftly ruled out the idea. The health authority denied reports that it considered using an RAF Chinook helicopter to carry him to St Richard’s Hospital.

In 2002 firefighters had to demolish the front wall of Mr Mason's former home in Ipswich so they could drive a fork lift truck inside to lift him out and put him into an ambulance when he needed an emergency hernia operation.

If it is true that Mr Mason has gained significantly in weight then it will be impossible for him to be taken to hospital without first losing some. Mr Mason is due to be weighed again on Tuesday.