A YOUNG, fit schoolteacher died after suffering a massive heart attack while using a rowing machine, an inquest heard.

JJ Smith, 26, of Elgar Avenue in Malvern, was a regular customer at the Malvern Splash gym in Priory Road.

He had a "hectic" lifestyle and was described as "a very fit young man", but suffered the heart attack on Friday, November 25.

Mr Smith was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital but was declared dead in casualty after paramedics failed to revive him.

He had no history of heart problems and lived a healthy life, with specialists describing his arteries as completely normal.

Tests subsequently found scar tissue on his heart. It is believed this developed as a result of some muscle cells dying due to a previous viral infection. This lead, in turn, to an abnormal heartbeat, which went undetected.

Mr Smith taught at Malvern Wells CE Primary school for three years.

Worcestershire coroner Victor Round said: "Mr Smith was a fit person and had no history of heart problems.

"He didn't take any drugs, had a healthy diet, although he did drink caffeine.

"He was a well person, which makes the death even more difficult to explain.

"There have been various studies of this problem, of fit, young people suffering heart attacks.

"This is certainly not an isolated case and the family left behind is not alone. It has happened to others.

"It appears that the death was relating to existing heart problems that he would not have known about, from a virus some time in the past.

"He may have had heart problems in later life anyway. This, if you like, was its way of catching up with him sooner."

The coroner recorded a verdict of death from natural causes.