Too hefty to handle: Welsh fire crews swamped by super‑size rescue callouts

New figures show fire crews across Britain have been called out 15,849 times since 2020 to help people who are stuck, trapped or unable to be moved because of their size — the equivalent of a rescue every 3 hours and 20 minutes.

And Wales is right at the centre of the surge.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service — covering Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Powys — handled 656 of these incidents, making it the fifth‑highest total in the UK.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service — which covers Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend, the Vale of Glamorgan and the Valleys — recorded 1,174 callouts, the second‑highest in Britain.

A growing “heavy‑lift” problem

In Mid and West Wales, the number of people needing specialist rescue because they were “too heavy to handle” has more than doubled in four years — rising from 59 in 2020 to 136 in 2024.

Crews spent 33,620 minutes on these jobs — that’s 560 hours, or 23 days of non‑stop work.

Across the UK, firefighters have spent the equivalent of 384.5 days on these rescues since 2020.

“It’s exhausting, dangerous and takes hours”

A frontline firefighter with London Fire Brigade, who took part in several bariatric rescues, said these callouts are among the most physically demanding jobs crews face.

The firefighter said:

“Jobs that would be simple with a healthier‑weight casualty become exhausting. You’re using more air, staying longer in dangerous conditions and risking heat exhaustion or collapse.”

He described one rescue that lasted ten hours and required an extraordinary multi‑agency response.

Instead of a straightforward lift, the operation drew in five fire engines, multiple specialist rescue units, four ambulances, a heavy‑duty bariatric ambulance and police support.

Crews had to dismantle part of the property — removing a balcony and three sets of doors — before building a reinforced ramp and using rope systems to lower the casualty safely to the roadside.

Even then, it took nine firefighters just to move the patient onto a stretcher, and one crew member suffered a back injury during the lift.

“These jobs push us beyond safe limits,” he said.

Callouts rising fast — but may now be slowing

The number of “too‑heavy‑to‑move” rescues rose 76% between 2020 and 2024 — increasing from 1,804 incidents to 3,183 across the UK.

However, the study also found that between 2022 and 2024, bariatric incidents fell by 13%, dropping from 3,653 to 3,183. Researchers suggest this may be linked to the rapid rise in weight‑loss injections, now used by an estimated 1.6 million adults.

“Obesity is putting huge pressure on emergency services”

ZAVA — the online healthcare provider that commissioned the UK‑wide FOI study — said the findings highlight the growing strain obesity places on frontline responders.

Dr Crystal Wyllie from ZAVA said:

“Obesity puts huge pressure not just on the NHS but on fire and rescue services too. These callouts are risky, physically demanding and take crews away from other emergencies.”

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service response

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said bariatric rescues — the callouts where someone is too heavy to move without firefighters and specialist kit — are becoming an increasingly common part of their workload.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said:

“Although fire and rescue services in Wales have no statutory duty to carry out bariatric rescues, we remain committed to supporting the people we serve and our emergency service partners whenever they need us.

“Bariatric incidents are increasing across the UK, and while these situations can be complex, our crews continue to respond with professionalism and compassion to ensure the safety and dignity of everyone involved.

“Our priority is always to help our communities and we will continue to work closely with colleagues in health and ambulance services to provide the best possible support where it is safe and appropriate to do so.”