Fat Aussie Ambulances

Australia's obesity crisis has forced health officials to revamp their fleet of ambulances to cope with a sharp rise in overweight patients.

Super-sized vehicles have been introduced and new air ambulances will be remodelled to carry heavier people.

Studies estimate that 67% of Australian men and over half of all women aged over 25 are overweight or obese.

So many Australians are now bulging at the waistline that ambulances are being equipped with heavy-duty stretchers.

These are capable of carrying patients weighing up to 220kg (34 st 9 lbs).

In the country's most populous state, New South Wales, officials have said that more super-sized ambulances may well be needed to cope with this health crisis.

Special vehicles with over-sized wheelchairs and a hydraulic tailgate were introduced a few years ago to transport larger people.

Their workload has doubled since 2004.