Forklift needed to shift patient

It's the kind of story usually heard of only in the United States or Britain - a forklift required to carry an obese patient from his house to a waiting ambulance.

But last week a Christchurch man weighing an estimated 250kg required medical assistance last week.

Because of the size of the man, in his 30s, firefighters were called to his house to help lift him into the waiting ambulance.

After assessing the scene, the firefighters decided the only safe way to transport the man was by using a forklift.

A pallet was placed on the forklift, and the man was laid on to the pallet at the front door.

Both the pallet and the man were placed into the ambulance.

Christchurch Fire Service assistant area commander Dave Burford said firefighters regularly assisted ambulance staff to lift people, but it was "very rare" to need to use a forklift.

"We go purely as manpower. There are only two people in the ambulance and they just can't handle it (lifting on their own)," he said.

The man was transported to Christchurch Hospital, where he was reported to be in a "fairly comfortable" condition.

Dietician Lea Stening said that degree of obesity was "out there".

She said each year her clinic would see up to six people a year who were over 160kg.

"And that's just us," she said. "Last year we had a man who was 218 kilos, the year before that we had a 20-year-old who was 240 kilos."

Her clinic had scales that would weigh people up to 300kg, but these were also used to weigh people in wheelchairs, not just those who were overweight.

She said very overweight people often had health issues - including diabetes, heart problems and mobility concerns - but with the right medical help and support, these people could lose weight through non-surgical means.

She said the man weighing 218kg had lost 50kg since last May through exercise and nutrition. "Being overweight robs you of choices, just as being underweight does."