A convicted serial conman who was well enough to be discharged from hospital, only to die in custody five days later, was on a downward slope and would likely have passed away even with medical care, a doctor says.
Max Heslehurst had in the past used his morbid obesity and ill-health as an excuse not to front in court and had reportedly once said that he was "too fat to fly" when authorities tried to extradite him from Australia.
Yesterday, a coronial inquest into his death - held because he died in custody - heard that the 190kg Heslehurst was acutely ill with heart problems and diabetes.
He also had a groin infection and difficulty walking because his extreme weight had damaged the nerves in his feet.
The 57-year-old, who had racked up dozens of convictions mainly for fraud, died on August 8 last year of congestive heart failure.
