Former world’s heaviest man Paul Mason is finally able to walk freely after having almost four stone of loose skin removed.

Once tipping the scales at 70 stone, Mr Mason, from east Ipswich, shed 46 stone after gastric bypass surgery five years ago – leaving him with heavy folds of excess skin around his body.

However, the 54-year-old is now in New York recuperating after a nine-hour operation to remove the skin on Sunday.

Following the surgery, the former postman posted a before and after shot to his Facebook page, along with the message: “The surgery results are...amazing.”

He later posted a picture of the American surgeons posing with the 48 pounds of removed fat.

The NHS service in Suffolk had refused to take Mr Mason under the knife until he maintained a stable weight.

However, Dr Jennifer Capla agreed to operate on him for free at Lenox Hill Hospital after seeing his story online.

Speaking to a national newspaper, Ms Capla said: “At the end he broke down in tears.

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

On Monday, Mr Mason published a ‘selfie’ of himself and his fiancée Rebecca Mountain taking a stroll through Central Park “for the first time”.

He added: “It was a beautiful day and I was able to do quite a bit of walking.”