Morbidly obese man forklifted from house

A morbidly obese Rotorua man had to be cut from his house as ambulance staff waited to take him to hospital.

It is understood part of the Riri St house had to be removed before the man was taken out on a forklift.

St John district operations manager Norm Riedinger said he couldn't reveal much about what happened. "It is a medical case and we can't really reveal any details about it."

He said ambulance staff were unable to lift the man out to the waiting ambulance and called the Fire Service for help.

"It is not unusual for us to require the help of the Fire Service," Mr Riedinger said.

"We often get them to help us if a patient is in an awkward spot or somewhere we can't get them."

A man, who wanted to remain anonymous, saw the incident unfold and said it was an "unusual sight".

"I saw all these fire engines outside," he said. "It's not something you see every day."

- DAILY POST