Died 14 June 1995 | ||
Sylvanus “Hambone” Smith III (December 12, 1940 – June 14, 1995) was famous at the time for his obesity.
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Early life
Hambone said he weighed 15 pounds (6.8 kg) at birth, and was raised by parents who ordered kids to clean their plates, and fed them candy to stop them from crying. He weighed 275 pounds (125 kg) by age 11. By 1991, he could no longer stand or walk, and he was confined to bed.
Adult life
At his peak, Hambone weighed approximately 1,000 pounds (450 kg), making him one of the world’s heaviest living person. Hambone had to be taken to hospital using a truck, and he was lifted out of his room using a forklift truck. He lost around 300 pounds (140 kg) in hospital, but he regained it upon returning home. He was desperate to lose weight before marrying his fiancée, Tammy Humphrey.
Death
On June 14, 1995, Hambone died. According to the coroner, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes lead to his death. He was buried in Tifton, Georgia.