Yahoo Finance Tributes paid to Britain's former fattest man after death from heart attack aged 52
A football fan once dubbed Britain's fattest man has died aged 52 from a heart attack, according to the club he supported.
Lifelong Birmingham City FC supporter Barry Austin passed away in hospital on New Year’s Day after suffering a fall at his home a week ago.
Tributes poured in over the weekend from his family, friends and fans for the “great guy” who “always had a smile on his face”.
Birmingham City FC tweeted: “We are saddened to hear of the passing of lifelong Bluenose, Barry Austin.
“His love for Blues was unquestionable. May you rest in peace, Baz.”
His stepdaughter Dannie Nina Louise confirmed the death on Facebook, writing: “Absolutely heartbroken is the only word I can say how I feel right about now rest in paradise to the big man of my life my dad Barry Grizzly Austin I loved u like u was and its how we treated one an other.
“You will be missed love you forever my dad and always will be.
“I will take care of mom while your gone till we meet again love you.”
Once known as Britain's fattest man, his weight peaked at 65 stone.
At one point he consumed up to 29,000 calories a day, including drinking up to 12 litres of fizzy drink.
In recent years Austin, from Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, was said to struggle with breathing issues and infections.
He gained notoriety for his excessive eating and took part in Sky One documentary Inside Britain's Fattest Man, presented by Richard Hammond.
He also took part in ITV comedy-drama The Fattest Man In Britain starring Timothy Spall and Bobby Ball.
We are saddened to hear of the passing of lifelong Bluenose, Barry Austin.
His love for Blues was unquestionable. May you rest in peace, Baz. 💙 pic.twitter.com/EBD1UgyA7g— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) January 1, 2021
Austin, who used to drink up to 40 pints of beer and bottles of spirits on a night out, had his own column in a lad's mag and would often be seen on BBC news commenting on current affairs.
The ex-cab driver was said to have shed 20 stone back in April 2012 as he prepared to marry his then finance Debbie Kirby, 50, from Solihull, West Midlands.
After having a gastric balloon fitted, it is believed his weight dropped to 40 stone, losing him the title as Britain's Fattest Man.
But even with the drastic weight loss, Austin was still reported to be suffering from serious problems with his legs and a growth that weighed two or three stone in its own right.
Austin, who had his own custom-made seat at Birmingham FC's football ground, was rushed to hospital after suffering a fall at his home a week ago.
The family are said not to have been with him when he died due to coronavirus restrictions, according to The Sun.
Austin was overtaken as Britain's fattest man by Paul Mason, who weighed more than 70 stone.
But Britain's fattest man is now takeaway-food app addict Jason Holton, 30, of Camberley, Surrey.
Holton, who weighs 50 stone, had to be hoisted out of his third-floor flat by the fire service in October 2020 after being trapped indoors for five years.
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