A rescue team used a tow truck to transport an obese youngster to a hospital in Thailand.

Volunteers from Khumklao Rescue with medics were called to a home when a 21-year-old lad weighing 25st (160kg) said he could not breathe in Bangkok.

Footage shows the flatbed tow truck serving as a makeshift ambulance for the obese resident on March 6.

The team laid sheets on the flatbed, put a siren at the front to signal an emergency and put an umbrella over the patient's body to cover him.

Medics checked his vitals from time to time with apparatus they had to move from the ambulance to the truck as their patient could not fit in their regular vehicle.

One of the rescuers said: 'We took the patient by a slide truck to Phumibol Hospital. We had to rush because he could not breathe.'

The patient has liver cancer and pulmonary edema, which is caused by having too much fluid in the lungs.

He was given oxygen support at home, but his condition did not improve until the afternoon, so the rescuers were called to the scene.

The team successfully transported him to the emergency room, and his condition is stable.

Obesity is relatively less common in Thailand compared to Western countries, but studies said it has been increasing in recent years.

Traditionally, the Thai diet is rich in vegetables, lean proteins, and herbs, which contribute to lower obesity rates.

However, with the rise of processed foods, fast food, and a more inactive lifestyle, obesity rates have been growing, especially in urban areas.