KEEP-FIT enthusiast Matthew Sperring collapsed and died in a Chippenham gym.

The 29-year-old, who came from Australia, was weight training at the Olympiad on Monday when he collapsed with a suspected heart attack.

Staff tried to revive him but he was declared dead at the scene.

His devastated wife Julianna said: "All I can say is that he's gone. We are going through a very sad period at the moment. I can't talk about the accident."

The couple, who lived in Bythebrook, Chippenham, had no children.

Mr Sperring worked in computers and his work took him abroad regularly so he visited the gym at the Olympiad, where he was a member, when he could.

Fitness suite staff at the Monkton Park leisure centre were alerted by other gym users after Mr Sperring collapsed around 7pm.

The fitness suite was cleared and the leisure centre closed as a mark of respect.

PC Pete Fennell, of Chippenham police, said: "The staff did everything they could to try to revive him. They cannot be faulted, they really battled to help him and did cardiac pulmonary resusitation until the paramedics got there.

"We understand that he went to the gym in fits and starts. He travelled regularly, and we understand he would go when he was here."

The couple did not have family here, and had no children.

PC Fennell said: "They lived for each other."

Mr Sperring's father and other family members flew over from Australia after being informed of his death.

PC Fennell said: "His wife was understandably devastated. You don't ever expect someone to die of a heart attack at his age."

Adrian Jones, managing director of North Wiltshire Leisure which runs the Olympiad, said the centre was very busy when the incident happened.

He said: "The gentleman collapsed when exercising in the weight training area.

"Another gym user saw it happen and alerted a member of staff who was in the fitness suite, and that person pressed our alarm which alerted other members of staff to the severity of the incident.

"It was obvious that it was a very serious situation. An ambulance was called and the paramedics were there very quickly. It was very shocking and a difficult situation for everyone to deal with."

Mr Sperring's death was the second in the centre. A customer collapsed and died from a heart attack while playing squash a few years ago.

A post mortem is due to be held in the next few days.