text: A 1,200lb-man forced to move from his financially-troubled nursing home was hoisted from the building by a crane and driven to his new residence on a flatbed truck. Robert Butler, 43, was transported inside a shipping container from Bannister House in Providence, Rhode Island to the Eleanor Slater Hospital in Cranston. He was accompanied by his medical team. The operation took almost seven hours on Sunday and involved the Providence and Cranston fire departments, Lifespan, the Hospital Association of Rhode Island and Bay Crane Northeast. Scroll down for video . Robert Butler was transported inside a shipping container from Bannister House in Providence, Rhode Island to the Eleanor Slater Hospital in Cranston on Sunday after his nursing home shut down amid financial difficulties. In this 2009 image, he weighed 900lbs. He has since gained another 300lbs . The Rhode Island health department acquired a crane from Bay Crane Northeast to help with their operation . Mr Butler was moved to his new hospital resident in a shipping container alongside his medical team to monitor his health . According to Target 12, the complex operation began with firefighters widening the door of Butler's room, then building a special ramp to move Mr Butler on to a deck. He was then shifted into the shipping container, complete with medical equipment, and lifted with a crane down on to a flatbed truck. Michael Raia of the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health & Human Services said planning for the move began weeks ago. Mr Raia said the new facility is better equipped to help Butler. In 2006, Mr Butler, who is on permanent disability, told local news channels that his bed was broken  at the nursing home and he was not receiving proper care. At the time, he weighed 900lbs and was trying to find a doctor to perform a gastric bypass and a way to cover the cost of the medical bills. He told WPRI that his weight problem was linked to his depression and that he was addicted to food. The crane was used to hoist Mr Butler in a medically-equipped shipping container from the nursing home on to a flatbed truck on Sunday afternoon . Mr Butler weighs around 1,200lb after a decade of battling his weight which he linked to depression . Mr Butler said in an interview in 2006 (pictured) that he was desperate for a gastric bypass but was unable to find a doctor to perform the surgery. At the time he weight 900lb .
target: Robert Butler, 43, transported inside a shipping container from Bannister House in Providence, Rhode Island, to Eleanor Slater Hospital in Cranston .
  The complex operation on Sunday took 7 hours and involved two local fire departments .
  Mr Butler has had a decade-long battle with his weight and depression .