The 24-year-old, who does not want to be named, was saved by the quick actions of staff at Oakengates Leisure Centre in Telford and the care of medics on the Intensive Therapy Unit and Coronary Care Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.

The former competitive swimmer, who lives in Telford, was taking a spin class at the leisure centre, which is run by Telford & Wrekin Council last week when she suddenly collapsed.

But her life was saved by the actions of gym staff Roy Tivey, who was taking the class, and Ian Martin.

The pair used the gym’s Automated External Defibrillator to administer a shock to the woman, while carrying out CPR. Telford & Wrekin Council has Automated External Defibrillators at all of its leisure sites, with staff trained in their use, as well as the use of oxygen and in CPR.

Doctors at the Princess Royal Hospital praised the two men and said it highlighted the importance of having such equipment at places where people are involved in physical activity.

The 24-year-old has Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, the same condition which affected footballer Fabrice Muamba, who collapsed on the pitch while playing for Bolton Wanderers in an FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in March 2012.

She said she remembered nothing of the events and that her first proper memory was being in hospital two days later.

Her parents, who live in London, received a call from somebody who was in the same class who found a number in the woman’s phone. They contacted their other daughter, who lives in Staffordshire, so that she could be at the hospital.

She said: “The guys at the gym not only saved my sister’s life but also her brain function. They acted so quickly that she’ll be able to go back to work and have a normal life.”

Her father added: “They did everything in remarkably quick time. She was down for less than three minutes. It ran like a training exercise.”

Roy, who has been at Oakengates Leisure Centre for more than five years, said: “I was taking the spin class and we were about 20 minutes in. I saw her collapse off the bike and onto the floor and she was shaking as though she was having a fit.

“I supported her head and was talking to her, but she just couldn’t hear me.

“Ian went to get the oxygen and the defibrillator. We put the mask on her and she took one big breath and a bit later did it again, but that was it.

“Ian took the pads from the defibrillator and handed them to me. The machine assesses the patient and talks, telling you what to do. I pressed the button and given her a jolt, I started giving her compressions while Ian delivered breaths to her. There was no way she was going to die.”

Ian added: “We didn’t really have to think about it, everything just kicked in. That is down to the training we have received. All the leisure assistants and duty officers have had training with the equipment.

“It’s not something you think about when you’re doing it. We just did our job and we’re glad there was a positive outcome. We both wish her a speedy recovery and hope that she will come and see us when she feels up to it.”

The 24-year-old, who is backing calls for defibrillators to be installed in schools and wherever competitive sport is played, said: “I just want to say a huge thank you to the guys from the gym.

“It is hard to put into words, but I want to say ‘thank you for acting so quickly and for everything you did’ and to say thank you to the staff at the hospital for everything they have done, too.”

She is now in London awaiting an operation to have an implantable defibrillator, known as a S-ICD, fitted.

Dr Adrian Marsh, Emergency Medicine Clinical Lead at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust said: “I would just like to add my praise to the quick actions of the gym staff who provided CPR and delivered a shock via the Automated External Defibrillator.

“Without their quick actions this young lady would not be alive today or would require significant help in everyday life.

“For every minute that passes between time of collapse and delivery of a shock the chance of survival decreases by 7-10%.

“The staff should be very proud of their actions.”