East Lancs '40-stone' man 'craned' out of his house (From Blackburn Citizen)
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East Lancs '40-stone' man 'craned' out of his house
11:00am Friday 13th July 2012 in News
RESCUE An aerial platform was used to rescue David Hurst from his home on Belthorn Road
by Vanessa Cornall and Lisa Woodhouse
A MAN weighing an estimated 40 stones who had to be ‘craned’ from his home after needing urgent medical attention has died.
The man in his 40’s, named locally as David Hurst, had to be winched out of the upstairs front window of the home he shares with his elderly mother and brother Christopher yesterday.
Neighbours of Mr Hurst, in Belthorn Road, Belthorn, said they believed he had not left his house for around a decade.
One concerned neighbour said: “It was really shocking seeing the rescue unfold.
“There seemed to be fire engines everywhere and when they started to take the window out I was amazed.
“Mr Hurst was lifted out of the window by a cherrypicker. He is a very large gentleman.
“The emergency services deserve a medal for their kind actions.”
Fire crews from Blackburn, Darwen and Hyndburn were called to help with the rescue.
They removed the upstairs front window because Mr Hurst could not get out of the door.
They used specially designed bariatric equipment, which is used for overweight people, as part of the rescue.
Paramedics had initially been called at 1.40pm but found they were unable to move Mr Hurst themselves.
Mike Birks, crew manager from Blackburn fire station, said: “We had to make an assessment as to how to get this patient out of his bedroom. He was quite unwell.
“To get him down the stairs wasn’t an option.
“Hyndburn’s aerial ladder platform was requested and we have had to remove the window from the front of the property and use the crane facility so that we could hoist the patient on to the stretcher in the bedroom.
“Then the stretcher was attached to the ladder platform by a winch and then passed out of the window to the ambulance just like a crane.
“It was an awkward job.”
A fire officer from Darwen said paramedics had told crews Mr Hurst weighed approximately 40 stones.
He said: “We were informed with his weight as part of the operation so that we would know what equipment to use.”
Mr Hurst was then taken to hospital for treatment at Royal Blackburn Hospital and his death was confirmed today.
The neighbour said: “I have lived in Belthorn for 40 years and the Hurst family were here along time before me. The late Mr Hurst used to be a teacher at Witton Park High School.
“I have known something hadn’t been right at that house for a long time.
“I have tried to pop round and call on social services for help but nothing has been done.
“The garden had become overgrown and the curtains were permanently drawn.”
The ambulance service last night said it did not want to comment on the rescue.
Comments(23)
Lancs Lassie
says...
11:26am Fri 13 Jul 12
darwenTower
says...
11:40am Fri 13 Jul 12
Your ferret stinks
says...
12:32pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Lancs Lassie wrote:It's a little to late.
This man obviously needs intervention and I hope that the hospital are in a position to provide it....without knowing all the facts, let's not judge
Symboy21
says...
1:01pm Fri 13 Jul 12
useyourhead
says...
1:23pm Fri 13 Jul 12
darwenTower wrote:some people believe that's how you show love, there is no place for tough love and they continually give in because the patient is often very depressed and gets comfort from the food, very vicious circle indeed.
My problem is that if he doesn't , or can't, leave his house, why on earth don't the people who are looking after him help him by NOT continuing to overfeed him.
-
R.I.P and wish love and strength for those he has left behind.
Info-warrior
says...
1:51pm Fri 13 Jul 12
darwenTower wrote:R.I.P. Dave. My thoughts are with your loved ones.
My problem is that if he doesn't , or can't, leave his house, why on earth don't the people who are looking after him help him by NOT continuing to overfeed him.
When your in your forties you are responsible for your own actions and if people wish to eat themselves to death their isn't much anyone else can do or say to change their ways.
The NHS must have been aware of the state of health of this gentleman or at least his GP must have known that he was suffering with obesity which could have developed from other underlining issues that this gentleman may have had.
Which throws the whole issue of mental health in to why this incident was permitted to happen in our caring society..? Had this gentleman ever been for tests to determine why he wished to eat to such a state that emergency services are being deployed to administer care.
Just a few other options to consider before pointing the finger at this gentlemans family who must be quite upset at losing a loved one so publicly then to read on here that the wise posters of the LET are pointing the finger at them. WTF..? Those who have blamed his family for his death should hang their heads in shame.
Twicki1
says...
3:08pm Fri 13 Jul 12
ste.g
says...
3:46pm Fri 13 Jul 12
ChairOnMyHead
says...
4:13pm Fri 13 Jul 12
darwenTower
says...
4:28pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Info-warrior wrote:I'm pretty sure that the man was still alive when I posted my comment and that the LET have since edited the article.
darwenTower wrote:R.I.P. Dave. My thoughts are with your loved ones.
My problem is that if he doesn't , or can't, leave his house, why on earth don't the people who are looking after him help him by NOT continuing to overfeed him.
When your in your forties you are responsible for your own actions and if people wish to eat themselves to death their isn't much anyone else can do or say to change their ways.
The NHS must have been aware of the state of health of this gentleman or at least his GP must have known that he was suffering with obesity which could have developed from other underlining issues that this gentleman may have had.
Which throws the whole issue of mental health in to why this incident was permitted to happen in our caring society..? Had this gentleman ever been for tests to determine why he wished to eat to such a state that emergency services are being deployed to administer care.
Just a few other options to consider before pointing the finger at this gentlemans family who must be quite upset at losing a loved one so publicly then to read on here that the wise posters of the LET are pointing the finger at them. WTF..? Those who have blamed his family for his death should hang their heads in shame.
Needless to say my thoughts are with the family but my point, as harsh as it is, stands.
I have far more sympathy for the poor man who has now died, he did not get the help he needed. In fact he was assisted in his self abuse.
Somebody had to bring him the food. Would it be different if it was drugs or alcohol?
bmca4916
says...
5:10pm Fri 13 Jul 12
Saeran
says...
5:55pm Fri 13 Jul 12
ChairOnMyHead wrote:You simply have no clue as you are blinded by your ignorance
I have No sympathy for people who allow themselves to become obese. There's plenty of help out there. The Government should stop DLA payments for massively overweight people because they only spend it on junk food. And this is the end result.
Miss_Redd
says...
12:03am Sat 14 Jul 12
Dear Lancashire Telegraph,
I don't mind that you post these stories, the one about the teen who kills herself, or the alcoholic who gets hit by a car. What I would really appreciate would be your consideration of posting a helpful sentence at the end of these sorts of stories. Perhaps something like " if you, or someone you know are struggling with X, and would like some support- please call 12345-6789 (etc.).
Many thanks,
Belthornian
says...
12:49am Sat 14 Jul 12
superyob
says...
5:49pm Sat 14 Jul 12
I don't know many smokers/boozers, who require teams of carers to help them get on with their lives?
And lets not forget the tax on fags & booze far outweighs the tax on a McDonalds or KFC.......
OBESE ??? no-ones fault but their own & those that feed them....prime example are Lancashires own celebrity skivers......the Chawners!!! 'nuff sed!
superyob
says...
5:59pm Sat 14 Jul 12
Symboy21 wrote:You mean they cant see how big they're getting? Pull the other one !
It can be a catch 22 for the feeders of these people. They feed them want they want because they don't want to upset them but they don't realise the damage they are doing.
superyob
says...
6:01pm Sat 14 Jul 12
Symboy21 wrote:You mean they cant see how big they're getting? Pull the other one !
It can be a catch 22 for the feeders of these people. They feed them want they want because they don't want to upset them but they don't realise the damage they are doing.
peely
says...
6:10pm Sat 14 Jul 12
peely
says...
6:10pm Sat 14 Jul 12
Miss_Redd
says...
10:04pm Sat 14 Jul 12
poo banger
says...
6:52pm Sun 15 Jul 12
beagle
says...
9:29pm Sun 15 Jul 12
UTC
Saeran says...
11:22am Fri 13 Jul 12