Tears of joy: Former world's fattest man can walk again after successful removal of loose skin from his legs

The world’s former fattest man wept tears of joy after an operation to remove excess skin caused by his extreme weight loss.

Paul Mason, who once weighed 70st, shed 48st thanks to gastric surgery.

But that left him with ugly folds of loose skin weighing 7st. Flaps of skin weighing 3st were taken from his torso and legs. He will need more surgery to complete the job.

The former postman, 54, had been using a wheelchair but is now learning to walk again after the nine-hour op.

Surgeon Jennifer Capla said: "When he lay down or even stood his legs were outward rotated and could barely fit on the bed.

"He couldn't put them together because of the excess skin.

"After surgery he said ‘my legs are straight, my knees are straight’.

“I took his hand and said ‘touch your belly’. He tried to grab the flap that used to be there and said ‘oh my God’.

"He was a little bit overwhelmed when he couldn't feel anything and burst into tears."

The NHS had turned Paul down for an op but Dr Capla agreed to operate on Paul for free at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, after her mum read about his situation.

"When I came to his bedside with the other doctors he was very appreciative, he feels this operation is truly life changing,” she added.

"At the end he broke down in tears. It's been a long journey for him and all the emotions came together at once."

Paul, from Ipswich, is now recovering in hospital with devoted US fiancee Rebecca Mountain, 41, at his side.

Rebecca, who weighs just eight stone, met Paul online after seeing a documentary about his plight.

Paul has now issued a message to hundreds of his online followers.

He wrote: "Was able to take a few steps today with the help of Dr Capla and a nurse. A little further each day."