A 26-year-old Malvern teacher died on Friday after collapsing during a gym workout.

JJ Smith's sudden death has devastated everyone who knew him as a fit and healthy person who loved life.

Mr Smith, of Elgar Avenue, collapsed in the Malvern Splash gym on Friday at around 5pm.

After staff and paramedics tried to revive him he was taken to Worcester-shire Royal Hospital, but was pronounced dead minutes later.

A much loved teacher at Malvern Wells CE Primary Jeremy Smith, known as JJ, was a member of several local amateur dramatic groups, a keen sportsman and music lover.

His parents Barrie and Mandy Smith, from Alfrick, have been overwhelmed with cards, flowers and tributes.

His sister Danny said JJ was always happiest when surrounded by crowds of friends or when organising a party or trip. "A lot of what he did was for other people," she said.

"He was always ridiculously busy but somehow he always had time for people, family or friends. He'd drive miles out of his way just to wish someone happy birthday or deliver a thoughtful present," she said, adding he'd been the best brother and always had a wonderful sense of fun.

Kevin Wright, headteacher at Malvern Wells CE Primary, where Mr Smith had worked since 2002, said: "To the children Mr Smith was simply the greatest teacher. He was truly gifted, having that rare ability to motivate pupils to the highest standards through the sheer enjoyment of learning that he enabled."

"As our colleague JJ was our rock - always to be relied upon in helping with the work of the school and never far from our sides when we needed a hand."

Mr Smith grew up in Callow End and Alfrick and attended Hillstone school in Malvern, winning a scholarship to Worcester Royal Grammar School at 11. He went on to study at Aberystwyth University.

He was a keen rider and member of the Wyre Forest Pony Club while growing up and returned home to Alfrick when he could to go riding on his horse Johnny.

Always interested in music - he taught himself the piano - at university he began DJ-ing and got involved with hospital radio, hosting his own show In Bed With JJ.

He went on to DJ on his local radio station while still at university but decided against a radio career as he "didn't want a job talking to people he couldn't see", according to his mother.

Instead he trained as a teacher and his first teaching job was at Malvern Wells Primary.

Opening an inquest on Tuesday, county coroner Victor Round said Mr Smith had no related medical history and had not complained of feeling unwell.

"Everybody thought of him as fit," he said.

He said tests would be carried out and the inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

Mr Smith's funeral is at 2pm on Thursday, December 8, at St Mary Magdalene Church, Alfrick.

There will be family flowers only. Donations to Cancer Research UK and local charities can be made through Handley Funeral Directors, Bromyard.