Gills' youth team coach Darren Hare has returned to work after suffering a heart attack just six weeks ago.

Darren, brother-in-law to boss Andy Hessenthaler, believes he wouldn't have survived without the swift action of his wife Alison, who is a nurse.

He had just returned home from a scouting mission to watch Southend play Oxford on February 1 and fell asleep in front of the television.

Hours later, 43-year-old Darren awoke to sharp pains in his chest and Alison, a ward sister, called an ambulance.

Speaking after his first appearance back on the bench for Gillingham's youth team on Wednesday, he said: "I was not under any real stress and I fell asleep and woke up having this massive heart attack and in a lot of pain.

"My wife recognised the symptoms straight away, knew what was going on, called the paramedics and they were there within four minutes, I have nothing but praise for them, the doctors and the cardiologist at Ashford, they have all been superb.

"It was a massive wake up call and really, without my wife, I don't think I would have survived."

Darren said he would now be 'taking it easy' and slowly reintegrating himself into the club, although he admitted his health was still his number one priority.

The father of three added: "I'm not coming in full-time just yet but will try to increase the amount of work I do in the coming weeks.

"I'm a little tentative at the moment, I just want to make sure I don't overdo things, I am thinking a lot more about what I eat, when I eat, how much sleep I get, that sort of thing, my whole lifestyle has changed."

After seeing his side lose 3-0 to Brighton on Wednesday afternoon, Darren said: "I was a little bit disappointed, of course, but it is great to be in and around football again and I could not have asked for better support from the club."