Bridport Leisure Centre staff were recently praised by an A&E Consultant from Dorchester County Hospital for their speed and efficiency on saving the life of a heart attack victim.

In a letter written to Bridport & West Dorset Sports Trust's general manager, Nick Neale, Mr Cain wrote: "This is just a note to let you know that the prompt action by your staff in defibrillating a member of public using your gym suite has undoubtedly saved his life. "He was ventilated overnight and the next day was fully alert, orientated and comfortable. You should congratulate yourselves on a job very well done!"

The centre's trained first-aiders sped into action as soon as the alarm was raised. The fitness suite manager was first on the scene; unable to find his pulse so he asked a fellow fitness instructor to hit the panic button. Duty manager Hermione Welch, with the aid of a nurse who just happened to be using the gym at the time of the incident, began to resuscitate him.

Hermione said: "The training just kicked in and I really didn't think there was any chance of saving him. The first shock from the defibrillator didn't do anything but on the second it read 'start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)' which it wouldn't have done if the heart hadn't started." Eventually, the 67-year-old regular gym user left the centre breathing but unconscious, and was air lifted to Dorchester Hospital.

Bridport Leisure Centre, owned and managed by Bridport & West Dorset Sports Trust, has only had the defibrillator for six months and this was the first time staff had to use it. Julian Dean, assistant manager at the centre, said he accompanied the man's wife to the hospital where the consultant had told him that the victim owed his life to the staff.

West Dorset District Council Chairman Ronald Coatsworth presented Hermione Welch with a special award on 4 March. "The district council is very proud of its association with Bridport Leisure Centre as the major funder of this community facility, when I heard about this incident, I wanted to do something to show our appreciation and also to highlight what an excellent service our leisure centres provide, he said.

"People sometimes aren't aware of the high standards of training given to leisure centre staff and clearly it was put into good practice here. Leisure centres are normally fun places to visit, but with deep water and sporting challenges taking place every day, the staff have to be trained to deal with all kinds of situations."