A fitness fan has died after apparently becoming trapped beneath weight training equipment as he worked out in a garage.

The man, named locally as 28-year-old Chris Bailey, was found lying on a weights bench at midday on Saturday and had been dead for several hours.

His landlord, Oliver Steer, made the discovery at the house they shared in Mill Close, Portslade, East Sussex, and alerted Sussex Police.

Mr Steer, 57, told the Brighton Argus: "I found him on the bench with the bar across his chest.

"I tried to wake him but I knew he was dead. I had to try to lift the weight off him, which wasn't easy because it was so heavy.

"I tried to resuscitate him but he was gone."

He added that he and Mr Bailey had been drinking until 3am on Saturday before his body was found just before 1pm.

Mr Steer went on: "He should never have tried to lift weights that heavy by himself. He should have had someone to spot him."

The death has been referred to the local coroner's office.

A Sussex Police spokesman said today: "Police were called to a house in Mill Close, Portslade, following reports that the body of a 28-year-old man had been found in the garage on Saturday May 19.

"Officers received a call from the owner of the property at around 12.45pm and on arrival the man was found lying on a weights bench in the garage. He had been dead for several hours.

"The death is currently being treated as unexplained and the matter has been referred to the coroner's officer."