LEISURE centre staff and paramedics battled in vain to save the life of 29-year-old gym regular Matthew Sperring after he collapsed while working out.

He was exercising in the weight training area of the gym at The Olympiad, Chippenham, when he collapsed from a suspected heart attack at 7.15pm on Monday April 29.

Despite the best efforts of Olympiad staff and ambulance paramedics, it was not possible to revive Mr Sperring, who lived at Bythebrook in Chippenham.

Police had to break the news to Mr Sperring's wife Julianna.

Yesterday she 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."

Traumatised Olympiad staff, who have been praised for their attempts to resuscitate Mr Sperring, are being offered counselling.

PC Pete Fennell, who arrived shortly after the paramedics on Monday night, said staff at the gym had been extremely upset but had done everything they could.

Adrian Jones, managing director of North Wiltshire Leisure Ltd, which manages the centre, said an investigation had been launched and staff would be offered counselling.

Mr Jones said: "It was a very shocking and difficult situation for everyone to deal with. The gentleman collapsed when exercising in the weight training area. The staff were alerted by an alarm and they could see he was seriously ill.''

Mr Jones said his staff had put Mr Sperring in a recovery position before paramedics were on the scene. "Once they arrived they took over but some of our staff were asked to assist,'' he said.

The area where Mr Sperring collapsed was screened off while treatment continued and the fitness area was cleared.

"I later took the decision to close the centre,'' said Mr Jones. "Other staff were worried about their colleagues and it did not seem right to carry on.

"I went around and explained to customers what was happening and I was very pleased with the way the customers responded.''

He added: "Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time."

Mr Jones said he was proud of the way his staff reacted. "Everyone played a tremendous part in dealing with what can only be described as very difficult circumstances.''

He said NWL offered formal and informal counselling to employees, but added: "They are a very close-knit group and they have come together.

"I went to see them yesterday and they are bearing up well and supporting one another.

It was PC Fennell's job to break the news to Mrs Sperring, who was later taken by police to Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon to say goodbye to her young husband.

A post mortem examination is expected to take place within days.

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

A neighbour of the Sperrings, Lisa Paget, 38, said she could hardly believe the news of the tragedy because Mr Sperring was so young.

She said: "I never really got to know the couple but they were always very friendly and would wave and say hello. They seemed to always be together.

"He was always wearing sports gear and I used to see the two of them go cycling and walking together."

Mr Sperring's father and other family members were believed to be flying over from Australia yesterday.