Obese flier turned away from airlines; dies overseas

She should not have been traveling. She was very ill before she left the country. The airlines made best effort to accommodate her. Not all airports have the same accommodations and are able to find a way to get someone that large into a plane.

How did she get over there in the first place? Assuming there were no problems flying over there, why such a mix up flying back?

Since she was there for a month, I'm guessing she gained more weight while on her vacation.

That can definitely be it...I've gained ten pounds on a month vacation before....it was pretty awful...

Blimey people the woman is dead, have a bit of compassion! No-one knows the true extent of her health problems so stop being judgemental. The question I would like to ask is why did the airline allow her to fly in the first place?

I travelled to Auz about three years ago on an airline. My ticket was business class. While I was over there I broke two bones in my ankle but they wouldn't put a cast on it. The doctor give me a note to give to the airline that I needed to have my leg stretched out and in support but while I got on there they put me in a seat with no leg room, was squashed to say the least. About two seats up from me there was an empty pair of seats, I asked the stewardess if it was ok to move there so I could stretch my legs out she said I had to stay in the seat that I was as I hadn't paid for two seats. I then offered too and they said it was too late. By the time we landed my leg was swollen like a balloon, got up, collapsed rushed to hospital and was found with a dvt. Two months later I sued the airline on their incompetance and 18 months later won the case, got my flight refunded and compensated! So depending on the individual some airlines really suck and do not help whatsoever.

I guess I should just delete my account and die since I am over 400 lbs, thanks for all the encouragement

Don't you dare! :grumble:

Wow, I can't wait until I lose enough weight that I don't feel horrible for the 'fat piece of ****'.

I guess I should just delete my account and die since I am over 400 lbs, thanks for all the encouragement

Please don't let any rude comments from random internet people deter you from bettering yourself!!!! You can do it! Please love yourself enough to do this not matter what anyone else says or thinks....this is your life! I am here to support you!

My only issue with this is - KLM didn't have a problem taking her money and flying her THERE. Why do they suddenly have a problem flying her HOME? It seems this is where the company might be liable - they were not consistent in implementing policy. While it seems reasonable to leave this up to individual pilots, as a company it is frightening to think you could get "stuck" because two people interpret something differently.

I agree that there are many things to take into consideration. The fact she is diabetic is probably why she is an amputee - known fact that diabetes impacts circulation to extremities. She was extremely large - but I think one showing of Biggest Loser on TV shows that many people in America are this size or even larger. Take a look at some of the footage from their casting calls - it's not like the ones on TV are just the few largest ones that showed up. It's horrible.

I am a "woman of size" - not that size fortunately - I choose not to fly. Again, I am fortunate to live near family so flying is not a necessity in my case. I don't want to be embarrassed or an inconvenience.

I do think some of the comments here could be a bit more tactful and helpful - this IS a site for weight loss and we should be supportive of each person on this site. Some people here are probably that size or have been - I commend them for making the changes if they are putting it into action. And I won't diminish their efforts by making fun of a size they may have been - or might currently be. Imagine if you were 425 on here after losing 100 pounds - would you really want to read some of these comments? It's possible to be kind and realistic at the same time.

I guess I should just delete my account and die since I am over 400 lbs, thanks for all the encouragement

Only one person is being a **** about her weight. Someone with severe health problems should not fly overseas regardless of weight. Also, she needed a lot of special accommodations. Only certain airports even in the U.S. are going to be equipped to handle.

This.

I really don't feel that commenting that the airline is not responsible for her death is an attack on any individual for being that size. They tried to accomodate her, and as others have said, if her health was that poor, then she had no business flying in the first place.

What in the hell is wrong with you people? I know I would never say anything like that about another person let alone in a community that is supposed to help people with that very same problem. Were you all gorgeous and skinny when you started on here? I doubt it.

She wasn't DOING ANYTHING to get healthy. Her family is now blaming an innocent company for HER health problems that led to her death. People in this community ARE here to get healthy. What don't some of you get about that?

Not the airline's fault, but some of you guys are complete d*cks considering you probably were fat *kitten* too at one point.

I used to be anorexic if that makes you feel better about yourself?

Then overweight, now almost normal again... I was severely underweight for most my life.. I can't imagine anyone being 400 pounds, I doubt I have even met someone as big as that EVER, maybe close to 300 and they were HUGE! I'm only 5ft.. Those sizes would likely kill my soul before I could even get that big.. it just seems impossible to not notice to me...

I don't know about you, but I rather say it like it is, than have this pretend stuff about actually caring when

1) I don't know them so it is impossible for me to be emotionally attached to them.

2) They let themselves get into trouble by being that big, must I feel sorry for them? REALLY?

Eating disorders go both ways, you know.

I guess I should just delete my account and die since I am over 400 lbs, thanks for all the encouragement

YOU are here. You have obviously made a choice to get healthy. That woman wasn't.

Nobody hates obese people here. Speaking for myself, I just think it's sad that the woman's family is trying to sue a company because their family member didn't care enough about her own health to take care of herself.

^Bingo.


It was her fault she died. Bottom line. This statement in no way implies that I do not like or respect obese people. If someone chooses to live their life obese, I have absolutely no problem with that. It has no bearing on how I choose to live my life. However, if that person passes away due to a weight related health problem, and their family then tries to blame someone else for their death, that's just irresponsible.

No one (well, one person is, but let's just ignore him) is saying that obese people just need to curl up and die.

She caused her own death, not the airline.

^This..

400 pounds over weight fat piece of c***?

Sure, she never realised she was sick, and that her weight is an issue... sure... fat is sexy, until you die... accept fatness etc, until you die from it then blame other stuff...

Sure, it is a sad story, but if you NEED to buy 2 seats because your so fat, then sweetheart, you got a major major problem...

How is it even possible to BE THAT BIG! Are sumo wrestlers even that big? My god O_O

God why are you even on a site like this if you are a fat basher! People like you make me feel sick. Until you step into a persons shoes that is 400lbs or 300lbs etc and see what their day is like then please keep you idiot opinions to yourself!
There are many people on here including myself who are very much overweight and we are trying to change our lives for the better but going by you we should just close our account and die?? I really think you need to look in the mirror love because if you are showing that much hatred to someone who is overweight you must be an awful person in real life. Thank god I ain't friends with you, I would rather be friends with the devil

Not the airline's fault, but some of you guys are complete d*cks considering you probably were fat *kitten* too at one point.

I used to be anorexic if that makes you feel better about yourself?

Then overweight, now almost normal again... I was severely underweight for most my life.. I can't imagine anyone being 400 pounds, I doubt I have even met someone as big as that EVER, maybe close to 300 and they were HUGE! I'm only 5ft.. Those sizes would likely kill my soul before I could even get that big.. it just seems impossible to not notice to me...

I don't know about you, but I rather say it like it is, than have this pretend stuff about actually caring when

1) I don't know them so it is impossible for me to be emotionally attached to them.

2) They let themselves get into trouble by being that big, must I feel sorry for them? REALLY?

(first off, not the airline's fault.She shouldn't have been travelling in her state no matter what the weight was.)

But, hi. My name is Hoss. I just dipped under 400 pounds. I used to be over 500.

It does kill your soul. No sympathy needed though.

I guess I should just delete my account and die since I am over 400 lbs, thanks for all the encouragement

YOU are here. You have obviously made a choice to get healthy. That woman wasn't.

Nobody hates obese people here. Speaking for myself, I just think it's sad that the woman's family is trying to sue a company because their family member didn't care enough about her own health to take care of herself.

but the point is that none of us KNOW that. for all we know, she'd just LOST 100lbs to be ABLE to make that flight. it's knee-jerk judgement to say otherwise.

and also, you've just described half of the wrongful death suits out there.

if they flew her one way, then they should have flew her back.