Former Oldham Athletic boss Iain Dowie says he is "very, very lucky" to be alive after suffering a cardiac arrest at a gym.

The 59-year-old, who managed Latics from May 2002 to December 2003, collapsed during a spin class and was airlifted to hospital, where he was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), which is a small battery-powered device placed in the chest that detects and stops irregular heartbeats by delivering electric shocks, when needed, to restore a regular heart rhythm.

Speaking to BBC Northern Ireland, Dowie explained he has little recollection about the incident, but praised the staff at the gym, paramedics and air ambulance for their efforts in saving his life.

“I went to spin class and don’t remember too much,” he said. “I had a big cardiac arrest unfortunately.

“Lots of people looked after me – they did some great things in the gym - and then the HEMS team (emergency helicopter medics) and ambulance looked after me.

“I ended up in hospital for a good few days but I’ve been brilliant since and the heart’s all in good shape.

“I got a little ICD [implantable cardioverter defibrillator] fitted that will keep me going for maybe another 20 years, I hope.”

Dowie, who as a player won 59 caps for Northern Ireland and is now football relationships director at Larne FC, added: “It was more terrifying for my wife probably watching, but my view is I am one of those lads who looks forward.

“I have been very, very lucky. It was the right place to have it and maybe it just wasn’t my time.”