The Honiton resident has fought against the odds to pursue her love of instructing.

A 26-year-old woman who survived two double lung transplants says setting up her own business as a fitness instructor is her ‘proudest moment’.

Kirstie Tancock, once given just a week to live as she clung to life, is looking to make her mark in Sidmouth with pole and aerial hoop classes.

Kirstie battled the odds to become an instructor, having been born with cystic fibrosis, a life-limiting condition that causes mucus to gather in the lungs and digestive system.

She started going to pole classes when she was in college and found it helped with her fitness. She then decided to train to become an instructor.

The Honiton resident said: “I didn’t think about the stereotypes, I went in with a really open mind. I was an instructor at the age of 19, but had been teaching for quite a while.”

In 2011, Kirstie was enjoying teaching and planning her wedding when she ‘ran out of time’. She had been on the transplant waiting list for three months when she began to deteriorate. Kirstie was transferred to hospital in London and was in a coma for five days when a last-minute match became available.

Her road to recovery recieved an enormous setback when she suffered chronic rejection of the organs. Kirstie was initially told she would not be re-listed for a transplant as her lungs had built up antibodies which would make another match extremely rare.

“I had a week left to live,” she said. “They [the doctors] were going to re-list me, but said the chances were so slim they didn’t think it would happen in time.

“After a match came in, it was a whirlwind. It was a chance in a million.”

Kirstie has since set up her own business, Xtreme Fitness. She offers pole and aerial hoop classes and hopes to start teaching aerial silk later this year.

“This year I am looking to grow my business,” said Kirstie.

“I never knew it would be possible. It’s definitely my proudest moment. It’s amazing for fitness. It’s an amazing art form and it’s fun and it’s going to help people to do exercise and to help them.”

Kirstie will be running a six-week course at Sidmouth’s Dissenter Hall, at the Unitarian Church, starting from Saturday, May 14. Each session will run from 1.30pm to 3pm. Email Kirstietancock@icloud.com for more information and cost details.