AN obese woman, who had to be physically removed from her home by emergency workers, has died in hospital.

It took 14 hours for firefighters, paramedics and council joiners to extract Karen Ball, thought to be around 40 stone, from her semi-detached council house on the Liptrott estate in Chorley.

The operation overnight between Monday and Tuesday was conducted behind the privacy of cordons and required parts of house in Thirlmere Road to be dismantled or altered to get her through doors.

But on Wednesday lunchtime, Karen, who has been house bound since Christmas, died at Chorley Hospital.

She had been admitted after suffering breathing difficulties.

Council joiners and firemen worked round the clock and their operation included:

Removing the bedroom door

Dismantling the staircase

Making a hole next to the front door to get Karen through.

Sub-officer Steve Hart, of Chorley Fire Station, said they were initially called to Thirlmere Road, Chorley, to help lift the woman into bed.

He said: "We were called out three times, at 2.43am, 5.50am and 8.30am on Tuesday to assist the ambulance crew at getting the woman into her bed. She was a large woman and was having difficulties with her breathing. "

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "It is a real shame, it all started going down hill for her when she was made redundant from work. I think she took the can't be bothered' attitude."

Steve Lomas, head of housing at Chorley Borough Council, said: "We have sent two of our joiners to the house, who had to have a consultation with the emergency services to find the best course of action.

"The bedroom door had to be removed, the staircase dismantled and the front door altered before they could get the woman out."