A TERRITORIAL Army soldier died after collapsing during a training exercise on remote moorland - despite his colleagues' frantic efforts to save him.

Sergeant Dereck Trevor Heath, of France Street, Church, was taking part in a map-reading exercise, similar to orienteering, with 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital Volunteers on Holcombe Hill, near Ramsbottom.

He was with four nursing officers who immediately began attempting to revive him after he collapsed.

The Pendle and Rossendale Mountain Rescue team was called to help Sgt Heath reach an ambulance at 11.15am on Sunday.

He was taken to Manchester's Fairfield Hospital, where he later died.

An Army spokesman said no inquiry would be launched immediately but it would await the decision of the coroner on whether to hold an inquest.

Sgt Heath, 49, known as Trevor, had served in the Territorial Army for more than 15 years, was a veteran of the first Gulf War and had served again in Iraq last year. He was due to return to Iraq as part of ongoing operations.

His commanding officer Colonel Cliff Godby said: "Sgt Heath was one of the unit's great characters.

"Many, myself included, will remember him as a very private man who gave a selfless and long-term commitment to the unit.

"He was an accomplished instructor, passing on his military and medical technicians skills to his colleagues. He will be sorely missed."

Andy Simpson, of the Pendle and Rossendale Mountain Rescue Team, said: "The call came to us as a suspected heart attack.

"We were called after a paramedic from a land ambulance had gone up the hill on foot and we went out in vehicles.

"The people he was with were trying to revive him and he was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead."

Neighbours said Sgt Heath was an engineer, who was not married and had no children.

Ted Baxter, also of France Street, said: "I had known him for a long time and was a friend of his mother's before she died.

"He was a very nice fellow and spent most of his free time with the TA.

"I'm very shocked because he always seemed very strong and healthy, although I think he had a heart attack some time ago."