Firefighters called to help move 300kg man

Firemen were tonight called to move a 300kg man - the equivalent of a club rugby front row - from an ambulance into Wanganui Hospital.

Senior Station Officer Craig Gardiner told NZPA they were called just after 6.15pm to help get the man onto a special hydraulic bed.

"I don't know how they got him into the (ambulance)."

About six fire officers helped get the man in a standing position in the ambulance and then slowly walk him backwards, turn him around and lower him onto the waiting bed.

Mr Gardiner said the operation took about half an hour.

The ambulance earlier had picked the man up from the suburb of Castlecliff.

Mr Gardiner said the fire department occasionally received odd requests, but there were not many to help someone of that size.

"Wouldn't be good on our backs, that's for sure."

It was not immediately known why the man was admitted to hospital.

- NZPA