Andrew Blanshard from Denby Dale was on a course learning how to teach swimming at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield when the incident happened.
He said: “During the lunch-time break I went for a swim and the next thing I knew I woke up hospital two days later.
“I just blacked out and went down in the water. I later found out that I had a heart condition and this could have happened at any time.”
Andrew was pulled from the water by lifeguards who spotted that he had lost consciousness.
They performed life-saving resuscitation on the business consultant using a defibrillator when they discovered he had stopped breathing.
Andrew has taken part in sports all his life and is a member of Wakefield Triathlon Club.
Andrew was fit and healthy and had competing for years in triathlons around the world.
He said: “I’m incredibly fit so it just goes to show that this can happen to anyone.
“I am just so grateful to the staff for saving my life.
“It really is a testament to their training, as well as their personalities, that they did everything perfectly during the rescue and the venue should be extremely proud of them.”
Helen Broadbent, general manager at the Sheffield International Venues-managed pool, said: “Everyone at the venue is thrilled that Andrew is recovering well from his ordeal.
“It was the first time we used the defibrillator unit for real and highlighted how critical it is that pools have one available.”
Andrew is now recovering at home after spending 10 nights on the coronary care unit at Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital.
