WOMAN WEIGHING 30 STONES HAS TO BE WINCHED OFF ROOF BY THEN

[Daanyeer]

Woman weighing 30 stone has to be winched off roof by ten firefighters so she can get to hospital

By Daily Mail Reporter
14th May 2010


A morbidly obese woman was reduced to the embarrassment of having to be WINCHED out of her flat by firefighters so that she could make a hospital appointment.
Jackie Chamberlian, 51, could not squeeze her 30-stone bulk down the stairs of the first-floor home she had only left once in the last year - to attend her daughter's wedding.
But with her condition deteriorating fast, paramedics and firefighters worked her onto a mountain rescue stretcher and dragged her to the front door.
Then they placed Jackie's stretcher on to two wooden pallets on the rooftop before hoisting her over the metal railings and winching her to the ground below.

The huge operation was mounted in Melksham, Wiltshire, and caused Mrs Chamberlain great shame - as well as discomfort.
Husband Paul, who has been Jackie's full-time carer for 27 years, revealed she had been nervous about it due to the 'embarrassment factor'.

He explained: 'The wooden stairs wouldn't have been strong enough to support my wife and the four people needed to carry her - it was a health and safety thing.'
The 49-year-old said: 'About a year ago Jackie just gave up trying to get down the stairs.

'I packed in my job in September because she couldn't do that much for herself.

'I said "that's enough" because she didn't like me being away from her on an evening because she needed me.

'Jackie had been not so mobile for a while and finally called the doctors after years of not feeling quite right.

'They did some blood tests and rang up to say she needed to go to hospital.

'She was panicking about going to the hospital and was distressed because she thought everyone was going to be laughing at her - it was the embarrassment factor.'

She moved into the flat above the Boots store in 2005 with Paul and son Jonathan, 27.


In the last year she has only left home once - to attend her daughter Nicola's wedding to Colin Brownie in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, five weeks ago.

Her obesity became so bad that she suffered from severe bed sores and slept in the lounge because she was unable to use the flat's internal stairs.

Last Thursday morning paramedics were called to take Jackie from her home to the Royal United Hospital in Bath, Somerset.

Mr Chamberlain revealed they are now searching for a new property to live in over fears Jackie would be unable to escape in the event of an emergency.

He said: 'When we lost the house that's when Jackie's problems started.

'About two years ago I lost my job working for the council and the only job I could find was delivering fast food and we were eating fast food when I got in at 11pm.

'My job seemed to dictate what we ate. We had recently decided enough was enough and were trying to get out, but we didn't think it would be in these circumstances.

'If there was a fire the chances of Jackie getting out are rather remote.

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said arrangements are being made for the Chamberlain's to move to a new property.
He said: 'We have recognised Mr and Mrs Chamberlain's need to move for medical reasons and assessed their application accordingly.

'They have expressed their interest in a number of properties and have been successful with one of those bids.

'They are meeting with the landlord and if all parties are satisfied then the landlord will make arrangements for the tenancy to commence.'



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