A WOMAN died after falling off a cross trainer and hitting her head on a radiator during a workout at a private gym, an inquest has heard.Christine Bromwich, 56, appeared to suddenly keel over when she was exercising on a machine at Cannons Health Club in Chelmsford on November 3, last year.

By Juliette Maxam

A WOMAN died after falling off a cross trainer and hitting her head on a radiator during a workout at a private gym, an inquest has heard.

Christine Bromwich, 56, appeared to suddenly keel over when she was exercising on a machine at Cannons Health Club in Chelmsford on November 3, last year.

The mother hit her head on a radiator and was knocked unconscious, the inquest in Chelmsford heard yesterday.

First aiders at the gym battled to resuscitate her and she was taken by ambulance to Broomfield Hospital, where she died the following day, having never regained consciousness.

A post mortem examination found she died of cerebral damage due to a head injury.

Mrs Bromwich, of Uplands Drive, Chelmsford, who worked as a midwife at William Julien Courtauld Hospital, Braintree, had only joined the gym just over a month before the tragic accident.

Sara Larner , who was using a cross trainer a couple of rows behind Mrs Bromwich, said: “I saw and heard at the same time, Christine just fell and virtually at the same time there was a very loud bang as she fell onto the floor.”

Ms Larner rushed to help. “She wasn't conscious. I tapped her on the face a few times and called to her to wake up. I put my hand under her head. I kept on tapping her on the face.”

When she removed her hand it was covered in blood from Mrs Bromwich's injury, she said.

A statement from another witness, Sandra Knight, was read out to the inquest. It said: “She (Mrs Bromwich) was going at regular slow pace. I saw her stop briefly but she stood upright. I saw her keel suddenly over to the left.”

Essex Ambulance Service's deputy chief officer Paul Leaman was working-out in the gym at the time of the accident.

He read out a letter to the gym, which he had sent in his work capacity, praising members of staff who carried out first aid on Mrs Bromwich, describing their actions as “exemplary”.

Simon Deakin, general manager at Cannons, said there had been no previous accidents on the cross trainer.

After the accident Chelmsford Borough Council's environmental health department carried out an investigation and concluded the cross trainer was properly maintained and in a suitable position.

Essex Assistant Deputy Coroner Chinyere Inyama recorded a verdict of accidental death.

After the inquest, Nicholas Cotter, a solicitor representing Mrs Bromwich's husband and daughter, Neil and Katherine , said: “Neil and Katherine are clearly still in shock and mourning at the loss of their wife and mother. They'd really just like to express how Chris brightened the lives of everyone she met and that she'll remain in their hearts forever.

“They'd like to pass on their profound thanks to all of those people who sent them kind wishes and helped them during this distressing time.”

Cannons gym released a statement extending “sincere condolences” to Mrs Bromwich's family.

juliette.maxam@eadt.co.uk