The number of times Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has been called upon to rescue obese people who are too large to move on their own has risen year on year between 2013 and 2015.
Seventeen of these so-called 'bariatric' rescues were conducted by crews across the county last year, up from nine in 2014 and just four in 2013, according to figures released by the service following a request by The Chronicle under the Freedom of Information Act.
Chester and Ellesmere Port tied at four of the specialist rescues – which can involve the use of lifting equipment and slings – each over the three years.
No judgement
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service say they do not judge anyone in need of help.
“We are an emergency service committed to assisting people in distress or at risk," a spokeswoman said.
"We do not make judgements on people who are at risk. We respond where people’s lives are in danger or where there is a threat to their health or in instances where they may experience severe distress.
"As professionals, we are conscious not just of medical implications but also dignity issues.
“We now work closely with our partners to support public wellbeing.”
National picture
Information obtained by BBC Radio 5 live show there were more than 900 incidents in the UK over the past year alone.
But Tam Fry, from the charity National Obesity Forum, said the stats are not about more people being obese.
Rather, he says it is about those who are already obese reaching a size where they require such assistance, and the figures could actually be much higher.
“Senior doctors I speak to say there are many people who don’t leave their homes so they don’t even put themselves in a position where they may need to be rescued," Mr Fry explained.
“They are scared of being seen in public.”
