A BARRHEAD man who had a heart attack on a gym treadmill has paid tribute to the paramedics who helped save his life.

Chris Hughes, 53, was at the end of his work out at PureGym in Paisley when he collapsed.

Staff members and an off-duty GP provided emergency first aid until an ambulance arrived, with quick-thinking gym employees shocking him twice with a defibrillator.

The financial worker has now been reunited with the ambulance crew who helped save his life, saying his ambition now in life is to return the favour to someone else.

Chris, 53, said: “I collapsed while I was on the treadmill. The next thing I remember is waking up in the ambulance – its sirens were going. I could feel how fast it was going. I was told I had collapsed at the gym.

“I was very, very lucky that day. If it had not have been for the paramedics, I might not have survived – it’s quite overwhelming to think about.”

On Sunday, Chris was reunited with the crew at Paisley Ambulance Station that came to his rescue back in March, 2016.

He said: “I cannot thank them enough.

“Six months ago, I went to do a CPR training course. Because of what happened to me, for the rest of my life I want to try and pay back the people who helped me.”