A friend of Britain's ex-fattest man has revealed his last text message to him before his tragic death at the age of just 52.
Barry Austin, who died yesterday, gained notoriety for his excessive eating and once took part in Sky One documentary 'Inside Britain's Fattest Man' presented by Richard Hammond.
He tipped the scales at 65 stone but after having a gastric balloon fitted the Birmingham City supporter believed his weight had dropped to 40 stone in 2012, losing his title as Britain's Fattest Man, BirminghamLive reports.
The ex-cab driver was said to have shed the weight as he prepared to marry his then fiancee Debbie Kirby.
Broadcaster and fellow Blues' fan Tom Ross said: "Barry's weight was an issue for some people, but never for him.
"Barry was always happy within himself and he definitely had legendary status as a Blues' fan who loved Birmingham City - and Birmingham - with a passion.
"When I was hosting the phone-ins at BRMB he called us up and that's how I first spoke to him.
"He was a longtime listener and came into the studios a few times.
"When he told us that he was having trouble sleeping, BRMB had a bed made specially for him."
But even with the drastic weight loss, Barry was still reported to be suffering from serious problems with his legs and a growth which weighed two or three stone in its own right.
He revealed last May that he had not been out of his house for six years.
Tom said the last message he sent his pal was to find out how he was coping during the lockdown on May 13 last year
He said Barry replied: "Hi Tom... a few leg problems and haven't left the house in six years due to mobility issues, but I've still got a big smile and as the song goes KRO (Keep Right On... to the end of the road). How's yourself hope all good, and life's treating you well stay strong and positive."
Barry's devastated daughter Dannie has paid tribute to her late dad on Facebook.
She said: "Absolutely heart broken 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.
"I loved u like u was and its how we treated one an other.
"You was the kinda dad that was always there no matter what.
"We had our ups and downs but can honestly say I never loved u any different either way its gonna be hard to deal with u no longer being around... to see my mom the way she is horrible the whole family is just crumbled.
"To tell your friends was heartbreaking and the worst is still yet to come cuz I no soon or later I gotta tell your grandkids and I don't think I can do it tbh."
Barry was interviewed many times and always tried to be honest about the position he had found himself in.
He was once photographed training with Birmingham City players - an opportunity many 'ordinary' fans might have loved to have had for themselves.
But he readily acknowledged the dark side of his obesity.
Barry, who used to drink up to 40 pints of beer on a night out and was nicknamed 'Fat Baz', also had his own column in a lad's mag and would often be seen on BBC news commenting on current affairs.
At one point he consumed up to 29,000 calories and was drinking up to 12 litres of fizzy drink in a day.
In 2012, he said: “I have let a lot of people down over the years. I have really messed people about saying I was going to change, but never doing anything about it, and I know I have hurt a lot of people.
“But at the end of the day the only person I have been really hurting is myself."
At the time he believed his weight was down to 40 stone
Barry said: “Death is constantly on my mind, it is always in the back of my head, stalking me.
“My mortality is right in front of me every day. Carrying this amount of weight is like carrying a ticking timebomb.”
