HITTING the gym after a booze and food-fuelled Christmas is one thing. Hitting it after suffering a stroke, a brain haemorrhage and a double dose of pneumonia is another.

Yet this is exactly what Keith Whiskin, 51, did as part of his recovery from an onslaught of illnesses which almost claimed his life.

Despite still being paralysed down one side, Keith is a popular member of the Fitness First gym at the Festival Leisure Park, Basildon.

Keith’s inspirational story has seen him nominated by workers at the gym for the final of the national Fitness First New You achievement awards.

Dad-of-three Keith, of Devonshire Road, Laindon, who spent four months in Southend Hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage in 2000, said: “I don’t remember anything. One day my body just collapsed.

“To make it worse, within days of my haemorrhage I suffered a major stroke.

“I then got a double helping of pneumonia.

“I don’t know how I made it, but I managed to pull through, although it was touch-and-go for ages. After recovering, I decided to join the gym. I’d lost a lot of weight and I wanted to try to bulk up.”

He heaped praise on his personal trainer Darren Manly, who helped him regain sensation and movement in his right side.

Keith, who has been married to wife Cheryl for ten years, added: “I do weights and other stuff and I’ve managed to put on a bit of weight.

“It’s great to get out for a few hours and go to the gym. I enjoy it. And I’m thrilled to have been nominated for the award.”

Keith is not alone as fellow gym member David Downes, 26, has also been selected for the final.

David went from couch potato to mountain man, shedding seven stone to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.

At 21 stone, David, of Burr Close, Laindon, was unfit, unhealthy and uninspired, but when his dad died two years ago, it galvanised him into action.

The IT engineer joined Fitness First, shaped up, and has now scaled the 19,330ft African mountain to raise cash in memory of his father. He said: “My dad Robert was just 51 when he died from diabetes.

“Through doing the climb I raised more than £9,000 for Diabetes UK.

“Getting to the summit of Kilimanjaro is the hardest thing I have ever done.

“It was extremely tough as it required not just physical fitness, but a determined mind.

“I know it’s cold here at the moment, but it’s nothing in comparison to what it was like on that mountain.”

Gym manager Derek Crawford praised both men: “We have had some incredible stories from our members, but Keith and David are inspirational examples to other people.”

The plush awards ceremony will be held in London on Friday.