London/New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS): A UK strongman with 14 world records to his name has died at the age of 47 of natural causes, a media report said.

Simon 'Power' Plant was training for his latest feat of pulling a 19-tonne fire engine tagged to an ambulance, the Sun reported.

The thickset was battling health problems following a weight increase of 26 stone (126.1 kg) after gorging on a daily diet of 28 raw eggs and six jacket potatoes.

He lost six stones recently, drawing up a training schedule for the stunt to raise money for a children's charity.

His wife Danielle was quoted by the report: "We all thought he was invincible. When he went out for these efforts, I always knew he would do them."

A resident of Findern in Derbys, Simon began his stunt journey by pulling his van across a car park when he was only 17. He once pulled a steam locomotive to prove his prowess.

John Evans, 72, who holds a range of records for balancing weights on his head, paid tributes to Simon.

"He was a good friend and we worked together many times for charities. Even when he was ill, he talked of coming back," he said.

Peter Dowdeswell, 69, who holds titles for swallowing copious amounts of food, said: "He would always help handicapped people. He was one in a million."