THIS hilarious video shows the moment a hapless gym-goer tries to impress his girlfriend by running on the treadmill beside her - only to take an embarrassing tumble.

Rob Smith, 31, said he does not usually hit the treadmill when he works out at the gym - but decided to run on the machine next to his girlfriend, Alice Baddaly, in solidarity.

But the workout did not go as well for Rob as he had hoped, when he ended up dropping his phone whilst running - and then forgot to stop the machine before stooping to pick it up.

In hilarious video footage from GL Fitness in Hailsham, East Sussex, Rob's phone can be seen flying off the back of the treadmill, before Rob himself ends up sliding off the treadmill on his bottom.

Rob, can be seen trying to save himself, attempting to push himself back to his feet using the end of the treadmill.

The Argus:

But the machine, which seems to be going at quite a fast speed, sends Rob flying, and he can be seen ending up on his back just behind the treadmill - luckily, having a good laugh at himself.

Meanwhile, 32-year-old Alice continues jogging on the treadmill next to Rob - seemingly without even a backward glance.

Rob, from Polegate, three miles south of Hailsham, said: "It was well annoying. I didn't even know I was being filmed.

"My friend owns the gym - so he was probably sat somewhere watching it happen and having a right laugh at me.

"All of my girlfriend's friends have seen it, too. I'd only been with her for probably three or four months at that point, I suppose I was going on the treadmill to impress her," he joked.

Recalling the unfortunate incident, which happened about four months ago, Rob said: "My phone started going off while I was on the treadmill, and I dropped it as I went to stop it.

The Argus:

"I just totally forgot to press the Stop button on the treadmill before I went to pick it up.

"I don't normally ever go on the treadmill - I really dislike running, I just can't get into it," Rob added.

"But my girlfriend is really into running, so I guess you could say I did it to impress her."

Asked whether Alice noticed his fall, Rob said: "She did notice and looked back to see if I was okay, but she just carried on."

Rob's fall happened in the middle of the day, at a time when the gym was relatively empty - and luckily, he didn't hurt himself.

But he said he has not been able to go back on a treadmill since - and he and Alice have even now changed gym, to David Lloyd in Eastbourne.

He said: "We still both go together, usually two or three times a week.

"But I haven't on a treadmill since. I stick to circuits, and training with weights," he joked.