A much beloved contestant on the popular reality show Extreme Weight Loss died at the weekend.
Rod
Durham, 52, was found by housekeepers at his hotel in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida where the high school English teacher had been spending his
spring break.
The cause of Durham's death, who was openly gay is believed to be diabetic shock.
Durham weighed 459 lbs when he began competing on the show, losing the weight through a year of diet and excercise. He
became an inspiration for millions back in 2014 when he lost an
impressive 180 pounds thanks to diet and exercise while competing on the
Extreme Weight Loss show.
Durham with hoists Chris and Heidi Powell after his weight loss
'He
had a personality and a character that was more than teaching drama or
English in the classroom. Students could have a personal and
professional relationship with him about life and being a good person.'
Teacher
and close friend Rocky Hanna added: 'There are a lot of broken hearts
in our community today. People like Rod Durham come around once in a
lifetime.
'His
smile, his heart, his demeanor… Even if you were having a bad day,
being around Durham would make it better. His laugh was infectious. He
was literally larger than life.'
