KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department is ready to assist a family in managing the remains of a man, weighing 420kg, who died in Pasir Hor, here.
Its assistant director (operations) Mohd Wildan Azhari said the department is prepared to help with transporting the remains to the hospital or funeral, as well as assisting in lifting the body.
He added that this special service is provided by the department for the handling of the remains of individuals who are obese.
"We have a five-tonne truck equipped with a hydraulic excavator to transport the remains. However, due to the weight, we may not be able to carry the remains using the equipment alone.
Therefore, we rely on the strength of our personnel and are ready to deploy them as needed," he said when contacted today.
He said the department went directly to the man's family home to discuss the assistance further.
"We are ready to transport the remains to the hospital for an autopsy and burial, but everything depends on the family's decision," he said.
In addition to the fire department's assistance, the sister of the man also informed that several non-governmental organisations have come forward to offer help with the bathing and burial arrangements.
"Alhamdulillah, the matter regarding the death certificate has been settled.
"We have received confirmation from the police and now we are in the process of arranging the burial with the help of the villagers and the NGOs that have contacted us to assist," she said.
Earlier, the media reported the woman's difficulty in managing the body of her 44-year-old brother, who passed away at noon today.
Before his death, the man had sought the assistance of the fire department after being trapped inside the toilet.