A mother of three from Bexleyheath has lost more than 20 stone after a humiliating rollercoaster incident prompted her to change her life. Fiona Carter, 46, was removed from a ride at a theme park when the safety bar would not close over her frame, leaving her mortified in front of hundreds of onlookers.
Following the incident, Fiona withdrew from public life and avoided social gatherings. She initially sought weight loss surgery but was told she needed to lose three stone first. She joined Slimming World in September 2018 with the aim of shedding the weight before surgery.
By January 2019, Fiona had achieved her three-stone target but decided to continue with the programme instead of undergoing surgery. She went on to lose a total of 20 stone 8 pounds, dropping from 35 stone to 14 stone 6 pounds, and was named Slimming World's Greatest Loser 2026.
Fiona said the programme gave her the confidence to make a long-term change. 'I wanted a healthier, long-term solution. I didn't want another quick fix or temporary diet,' she said. She now exercises three times a week and enjoys activities with her children, something that was previously impossible due to her weight.
Reflecting on the rollercoaster incident, Fiona said: 'The safety bar wouldn't close over me, so I was told the ride couldn't run and that I would be putting others at risk. I just wanted the ground to swallow me up.' She credits her Slimming World consultant and group for their support throughout her journey.
