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FDNY Needs 6 Hours To Lower 700-Pound Man From Hamilton Heights Apartment

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- We all know life is difficult for the extremely obese, and an example of that was seen in Hamilton Heights on Friday.

As CBS2's Tony Aiello reported, the FDNY struggled for six hours to remove a man from his sixth-floor apartment.

"The weight has always been an issue, so this has been really difficult," said Sandra Jenkins.

Jenkins was greatly concerned about her friend, as he was lowered onto a net attached to ropes from the sixth floor of his building on West 142nd Street.

"He's a good guy, but he's real sick," said Michael Corbett of Hamilton Heights. "He can't walk, because his legs are bad."

When the man called 911 at 7 a.m., the FDNY considered removing a window to lower him down – only to realize that would not work.

"Due to the size of the patient, it would have been dangerous," said Chief Tom Fitzgerald of FDNY Battalion 16. "We determined that the only way we were going to remove this patient would be to hook up a pulley system and a rope system, and actually raise him up the ground, and then lower him down the stairwell."

The ropes could be seen through a stairway window.

Amateur video taken inside showed the operation, as the man – estimated to weigh 700 pounds – was carefully maneuvered down from the sixth floor.

"He was a little stressed out, and he was in a little discomfort," Chief Fitzgerald said. "But he was in stable condition the whole time. He was monitored the entire time."

Once outside, it took 10 firefighters to lift the man onto a stretcher and then load him into an ambulance.

Neighbors said this was the second time in recent months that firefighters have labored mightily to remove the man for a medical issue.

When the patient is well enough to leave the hospital, Chief Fitzgerald said at least he will return home to some good news. The not-for-profit that runs the building has finally agreed to move the man to a ground-floor unit.

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