A FATHER collapsed and died after working out at a North-East gym.

Paramedics tried in vain to revive the 48-year-old at Bannatyne's Health and Squash Club, in Durham.

It is believed his six-year-old daughter was at a children's play area at the gym when the tragedy struck.

An ambulance crew and police were called to the gym at about 6pm on Wednesday.

It is thought the man collapsed in the changing room area after taking a shower.

The man, who was from Pity Me, County Durham, has not been named by police.

A Durham police spokesman said: "He has collapsed after working out in the gym.

"We were informed by the ambulance service that they were tending to a man.

"When the officers arrived the paramedics were still working on the casualty but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"A post mortem is expected to be carried out in the next day or so to establish a cause of death.

"At this stage it is being treated as a sudden death possibly caused by heart failure.

"We wouldn't give out names of people who die suddenly as a matter of course because it is not something we are investigating."

It is unlikely that there will be an inquest as it is believed he died from natural causes.

A spokesperson for Bannatyne Fitness said: "Everyone at the club is shocked by the tragic death of one of our members and our deepest sympathies are with his family and friends at this very difficult time.

"Our staff acted in an exemplary manner in alerting the emergency services and were praised for their actions by the paramedics who attended the club."