Fire crews in 40 obesity callouts

Version 0 of 1.

Fire crews in Northern Ireland have been called to help move obese patients 40 times in the last five years.

The total cost of the callouts was £85,297, according to figures released to the News Letter under the Freedom of Information Act.

Last year, firefighters were called out 11 times to assist obese people who had become stuck or needed help moving.

The Fire Service said their role "is to assist people in distress or at risk, regardless of their physical health".

A Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said the "role of fire crews at bariatric incidents is to assist with lifting obese people".

"NIFRS does not make judgments on people who are at risk," she said.

"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."