Ipswich/USA: Paul Mason’s girlfriend Rebecca Mountain speaks for the first time about their whirlwind romance
Rebecca Mountain has spoken for the first time of her whirlwind romance with Paul Mason, once dubbed Britain's fattest man - Credit: Archant
The girlfriend of Paul Mason as today revealed how the couple felt as though they had known each other forever when clapping eyes on one another for the first time online.
Paul is looking forward to meeting his new girlfriend face-to-face next month when she will fly over from the US - Credit: Archant
Rebecca Mountain first learnt of Mr Mason – once dubbed Britain’s fattest man – several years ago when a documentary following his journey from a 70-stone man to undergoing gastric bypass surgery aired in her native America.
The 40-year-old businesswoman, who lives in Orange, near Boston on the east coast, said as soon as she watched his story she felt “tremendous compassion for him and his situation”.
Speaking for the first time since it was revealed Mr Mason had found love on the other side of the Atlantic, Miss Mountain told The Star it wasn’t until she came across a YouTube video in July about her new love’s incredible weight loss that she was inspired to get in contact.
“When I found out how he’d lost all this weight but had been left without the skin removal surgery that usually follows such massive weight loss, I had to try and help him,” she said. “When I watched Paul’s documentary, I felt there was something about him that attracted me.
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“Looking back, I think it was how sincere he came across. He seemed a very genuine person, who realised he needed help.
“When I spoke with Paul for the first time last month it was as if we had known each other for years. I think right away we trusted each other.”
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She added: “Paul is very caring and compassionate. He is very honest about his life and situation. Those are some of his greatest qualities, but he’s also funny, smart, creative and very loving. We have not known each other very long but we both feel that our relationship will be a lasting one.”
Miss Mountain is determined to do what she can to help her partner realise his dream of undergoing surgery to remove an estimated eight-stone of excess skin left after he shed 48-stone.
Next month Miss Mountain will fly to the UK to meet Mr Mason face-to-face, after national broadcaster ITV stepped in after seeing their story in The Star.
“I cannot wait to see Paul in person,” Miss Mountain added. “I know that we will feel just as close and at ease with each other as we have talking over Skype.
“I am helping him pursue surgery outside of the NHS so that he can move on with his life.
“While he does have a doctor in New York willing to offer her services free of charge, there are many other related costs that would prevent him from getting the surgery so we have started a fundraising page at www.youcaring.com.”
