Manuel Uribe, once world's heaviest man, dies in Mexico at age of 48

A Mexican man once listed as the world's heaviest human being died Monday, at the age of 48.

Manuel Uribe had slimmed down to about 867lbs (394kg), well below his then-record peak weight of 1,230lbs (560kg), which was certified in 2006 as a Guinness World Record.

Uribe's death was confirmed by an official of the health department of Nuevo Leon state, where the city of Monterrey is located.

Uribe had been confined to his bed in Monterrey for years, unable to walk on his own.

The official, who was not authorised to be quoted by name, said Uribe had been taken to the hospital on 2 May because of an abnormal heartbeat. He had to be taken to the hospital with a crane by emergency and civil defence workers.

Doctors have not yet certified the cause of death. In addition to the cardiac condition, Uribe was also believed to have suffered from liver problems.

Uribe married Claudia Solis in 2008, and the wedding was one of the few times he left his home in recent years.

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Uribe was a chubby kid, weighing more than 250lbs (115kg) as an adolescent. Starting in 1992, he said, his weight began ballooning further.

Since the summer of 2002 Uribe had been bedridden, relying on his mother and friends to feed and clean him.