I weigh 50 stones and could die at any time
49-YEAR-OLD IN DIRE STRAITS AS HE HITS 50 STONES
A 50-STONE man has made a desperate plea for help after doctors told him he could die at any time.
Mark Sehman, from Jarrow, South Tyneside, used to be a bodybuilder and was fitter in his younger days.
However the 49-yearold, who is 6ft 6ins tall, says he has always struggled with his weight and he ended up piling on the pounds.
His weight gain spiralled out of control and he reached 40st in 2008. He now weighs 50st and is classed as super-morbidly obese.
Mark has a number of health problems and uses a machine to help him breathe at night. He can walk only a few steps at a time, uses a wheelchair and is prone to swelling in his legs.
Nurses and carers visit Mark to help him with his care.
Doctors have told him he will die if he does not lose weight. Now Mark is hoping to get help some help.
“It’s a desperate situation,” he said. “Doctors say I could die at any time – I might not be here for Christmas. If I don’t lose weight, I’m going to die.”
“I’ve got sleep apnoea, which means I basically don’t breathe when I’m sleeping. I use a CPAP machine, a type of ventilator to help me breathe at night.
“I would have to lose about 15st to 20st to even be considered for any kind of gastric surgery.”
There have been periods over the years when Mark has managed to shed pounds after going on diet and fitness regimes.
But the weight has always returned.
“I’m 6ft 6ins tall, I’m a natural 20st guy,” he said.
“I used to be a bodybuilder. I’ve just always had a weight problem and battled with weight even when I was really young.
“In 2008, I was 40st. I did lose weight after that – I lost about 8st to 10st and I was doing really well. Then it went back up over the years and came up to 50st.”
He says his friend Michael Sayers, from Newcastle, is helping him, providing moral support, checking in on him and encouraging him to eat healthy meals.
Mark said: “Michael is trying to help me. He is helping to motivate me and support me, and I really appreciate that. With his help, I’ve been eating things like soups, cabbages and salads and I do feel better.
“But I have a long way to go and it’s going to be a really hard journey.”