French rescuers break walls to reach 391kg woman
PARIS, France - French emergency workers broke down walls to transport a 391kg American woman to medical treatment from her home in north-eastern France on Thursday, reported German news agency (dpa).
The woman, who has lived in Stenay, near the border with Belgium and Luxembourg, for about 20 years, had previously refused medical help, broadcaster France 3 reported.
Preparation for the operation had taken months. An ambulance for heavy people borrowed from Belgium was used. An operation of this kind, with such a high degree of complexity, had never happened before in France, a local government official said.
Emergency workers demolished a wall on the house's first floor and holes were chiselled in the ceiling.
The woman was then hoisted out through the ground-floor window. In addition to specialised firefighters, doctors, and nursing staff were also on duty. Some roads in the area were closed. - BERNAMA-dpa
