A Saudi man who weighs 1,345 pounds and has been unable to leave his house for more than two years has been airlifted to the hospital.

King Abdullah of Saudia Arabia intervened, arranging for 20-year-old Khalid Mohsin Shaeri to be transferred to a medical facility.

Nasser Makeen, Khalid's cousin, said: "Khalid has suffered from a disease since he was young and has had several operations. His illness has worsened recently. He became bedridden, and his weight started increasing day after day until he ended up the weight he is now. We wish him good health and wellness."

Before Khalid could be evacuated, a special bed for him was constructed in the United States and part of his home was demolished so he come down from the second floor.

On Monday, a team of workers - from the Health Ministry, civil defense and the Saudi Red Cross - started his transfer to hospital, using a forklift to get him into an ambulance. From there, Khalid was taken to the local airport in Jazan, where a Saudi Air Force jet was waiting for him. Once onboard, he travelled to Riyadh for treatment.