Dad nearly died while waiting for surgery on a giant hernia that makes him look pregnant

A father of six children with five giant hernias "who make him look pregnant" revealed that he was almost dead while waiting for an operation.

Mark Webb can not eat without throwing up and has lost seven stones in less than a year – but his problem is not considered an emergency.

At 39, he stated that he was about to die several times and that his health was constantly deteriorating.

Mark, from Bodmin, Cornwall, said: "It looks like I'm carrying a baby under my top.

"I know it sounds funny and that people really do not want to say anything when they say I'm pregnant, but living like that, it's a hell.

"I'm about to die on more than one occasion and I can not stand the thought of leaving my family."

He actually has five protruding hernias – which are so painful that they even give him contractions.

Mark first had a hernia removed in January 2017, but this one came back and he was finally referred to another doctor in October.

But he was told that his case was too complicated and he was referred to another person – who told him that a surgery would be too dangerous.

They advised him to lose 10 kg and return within ten weeks – which he did – but two more hernias were formed in the meantime.

But he did not hear about it and when he called the doctor, he was told that he was on leave and that he might not be coming back again.

He is still waiting for another reminder.

A few months ago, his wife, Maria, found him "half dead", slumped on the couch.

He had vomited all night and had trouble breathing just hours after leaving the hospital.

She says that if she did not call the paramedics that day, he would be dead.

He added: "Mark literally disappears before my eyes.

"If he's not there soon, the kids will end up being left without a father."

Mark has been suffering from hernias for over ten years and has had many operations to repair them.

He also had to have a testicle removed.

In the meantime, he is obliged to wear a coat even on the hottest days and to wear the heavier sweaters that he can find.

He loved swimming, but he is now too embarrbaded to be seen bad in a pool, even though he knows how to swim physically.

He also takes powerful painkillers, including morphine, every day.

Maria added, "It makes me sad that all our children must see their father as a frail 90-year-old man."