Fitness professionals whose quick thinking helped save a man’s life after he suffered a heart attack on the treadmill have been rewarded.

The Resuscitation Award from the Royal Humane Society was presented to three Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing staff in Twickenham on May 21.

Dave Buchanan, Barry Fleming and Steve Newman acted quickly when Peter Franey suffered a cardiac arrest while on the treadmill in September last year.

The three used a defibrillator and continuous CPR to restart Mr Franey’s heart and keep him breathing until an ambulance arrived.

Mr Franey said: “I feel it is important for community-based noteworthy acts to be recognised and that is why I put the team forward for the resuscitation award.

“After my cardiac arrest I was in a coma for three days and have short-term memory loss for the period of time around the incident.

“However, I am grateful to the quick thinking team at Nuffield Health and the immediate care and support I received. I would almost certainly have passed away had it not been for the actions of Dave, Barry and Steve. Thank you.”

One in three people who have a heart attack die before reaching hospital, according to the British Heart Foundation.

Former general manager at Nuffield Health, Mr Buchanan said: “It was a very intense experience, my training just kicked in and I knew immediately we needed to get him breathing again.

“Peter was lying on the fall and rapidly turning blue, time was critical. I am extremely proud of the actions of the team on that day and so happy that Peter has made a full recovery.”

The Royal Humane Society is a charity that grants awards for acts of bravery in the saving of human life and, also, for the restoration of life by resuscitation.