Britain’s ‘heaviest man’ dies from organ failure days before 34th birthday

Jason Holton, believed to be Britain’s ‘heaviest man’, died from organ failure just a week before his 34th birthday, his family has said. Holton, weighing an estimated 317 kgs, died last Saturday in Surrey.

Six firefighters had to transport Holton to the Royal Surrey County Hospital following an ambulance ride, his mother, Leisa, said, a media report stated.

Holton’s kidneys were the first organs to stop working, she said, adding that the doctors said her son would pass away “within a week”.

“He’s probably had about eight lives and I thought the doctors would be able to save him again, but sadly it wasn’t possible,” Holton’s mother said.

Holton reportedly began overeating during his teenage years while grieving his father’s death and went on to consume 10,000 calories a day, which included eating doner kebabs for breakfast.

He lived in a specially adapted council bungalow, custom-built with reinforced furniture for his comfort. Holton, in the latter part of his life, was bed-bound, couldn’t move and suffered from breathing difficulties.

In an interview with TalkTV last year, Holton said, “I believe time’s over for me in general. I’m coming up 34 now. I know I’ve got to try something.”

In 2020, Holton collapsed and had to be airlifted by a crane from a third-floor flat by a team of more than 30 firefighters.

“That was the most devastating time of my life,” he said.

“The terrifying part of it all was the number of people outside. I did watch The Whale, and it did feel like a horror movie to me. I said to my mum, don’t watch it. I turned it off and I started crying,” Holton said.

“I cried myself to sleep during that film. It was very upsetting for me because now I thought I’m Britain’s fattest man, that’s what people are going to think of me,” he added.

Two years later, Holton suffered a series of mini-strokes and a suspected blood clot.