According to the New Straits Times, the 33-year-old man, who weighed 250kg, had complained of pain in the waist area and had been unable to urinate for the past few days.

Although he was reportedly able to previously move around the house using a walker, the pain from his illness had rendered him immobile.

A relative contacted the hospital for help, after which three health officers, together with four firemen and four others from the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, were sent to the man’s house about 11.30am.

The man was then placed on a makeshift plywood stretcher, before being taken to a five-tonne lorry, which transported him to the Sibu Hospital.

This is not the first time Sarawak authorities had to deal with obese patients.

Back in March this year, a 160kg man had to be taken to the Miri Hospital using a fire department utility vehicle, after he complained of various health problems, including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

The man had to be put on the vehicle by lifting a mattress as he was too big to fit on a stretcher.