Thirty-stone dad shed almost two-thirds of his weight after doctors said he would die in five years

A dad shed an impressive 17 and a half stone - almost two-thirds of his bodyweight - after being told he could have just five years left to live.

Determined Bryn Penrose, 48, was told by doctors that he risked a fatal heart attack or stroke when he tipped the scales at 30st 5lb. He managed to shift the weight by taking daily walks and cutting out his fizzy drinks habit.

The father-of-three increased his daily steps gradually from around 50 to 21,000 per day. And while he would guzzle six regular cans of Coke a day, he now only drinks water and protein shakes.

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Within two years, he now weighs a trim 13 stone and has gone from wearing a 9XL in tops to a comfortable XL. Despite being half the size he was, Bryn says he now feels like twice the dad to his three kids, Harry, 17, and twins Charlotte and William, both 13.

He said: "I feel like it's made me a better dad to my children - it's made me a lot closer to them and now I can do stuff with them. I can take them to the cinema but I wouldn't dare go to a cinema before because the seats were too small and I couldn't even fit into them.

"I've even started playing tennis now which I've never been able to do before and now I can play football with my kids as well."

Bryn was given a jolt during a routine health check in 2021 when he was told he was heading for an early grave if he didn't drastically change his lifestyle. He started walking in a circuit around his garden at his home in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

And he gradually built his steps up, first by walking to the end of the street and back a couple of times a day and then going to a local park. Now, Bryn walks at least