A disabled man has lost more than half his body weight after a humiliating incident where it took four bin men to lift him when he fell from his wheelchair. Chris Edwards, 42, sneezed violently, causing his 28-stone frame to be ejected from his chair onto the floor at home. His wife Lorraine was unable to lift him and was forced to seek help from bin men working outside.
The father-of-two, who has cerebral palsy and has used a wheelchair since his early teens, said the incident gave him the push he needed to lose weight. He swapped a diet of bacon sandwiches and three-course dinners for soups and shakes as part of the Cambridge Weight Plan. Over a year, he lost 15 stone (95 kg) and now weighs 12 stone 7 lb (79 kg).
Mr Edwards, an events planner, said he used to blame his disability for his weight but now recognises that many limitations were due to his size. His more active lifestyle now includes picking up his children and putting them to bed for the first time. He said: 'It may sound so simple to most fathers but it was the first time I had ever been able to do this for her in her life.'
The incident occurred in April 2014 when Mr Edwards sneezed while working at home and tipped backwards out of his chair. His wife found him on his back and, despite his reluctance, asked the bin men for help. He said: 'Being picked up by the bin men that day was the most humiliating moment of my life. I was grateful for their help. But even more grateful that it gave me the push I needed to stop hiding behind my wheelchair and lose weight.'
Mr Edwards is now determined to show other disabled people that weight loss is possible. He said: 'Being disabled does not have to mean fat and I am proof. It's a myth that being disabled means you can't lose weight and seeing how much it has improved my life, I would love to help inspire others.'
