Post date: Aug 19, 2013 5:55:36 PM
Saudi King sends aircraft to evacuate a 1,345 pound man to hospital.
JAZAN, SAUDI ARABIA (AUGUST 19,2013) (REUTERS) - Saudi man, Khalid Mohsin Shaeri weighs 610 kg (1,345 pounds) and has been unable to leave his bedroom for the past two and a half years.
Six months ago King Abdullah asked for Khalid to be taken to hospital but treatment had to wait until a special bed was made for him in the United States.The 20-year-old patient was taken to King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh on Monday (August 19) after the Saudi King arranged for his special air transportation from the southern city of Jazan. Saudi's Health Ministry worked with civil defence and the Saudi Red Cross to organise the patient's evacuation after part of his home was demolished so he could be brought down from the second floor. A forklift was used to transfer him to an ambulance which took him to a local airport in Jazan and a waiting aircraft to take him on to hospital in Riyadh.
Cousin Naser Makke said he was relieved Khalid was finally being sent for treatment.
"We have been waiting for this moment for a long time, the King - may God protect him and give him the long life - had given his instructions to the ministry of health to do all the arrangements to transfer the patient for treatment in a safe way,`` he said.
Khalid was reported to have a brother and sister who are also overweight, but able to walk.
Local media reported that the Saudi Health Ministry had dealt with other morbidly obese patients this year, including two siblings who weighed 300 kilograms (661 pounds) and 350 kilograms (771 pounds) respectively.