Snooker star Willie Thorne, 66, dies in hospital in Spain with his family at his bedside after suffering ‘septic shock’ following respiratory failure as he was treated for leukaemia
- Thorne, 66, was taken to hospital last week with dangerously low blood pressure
- The former snooker star had announced in March that he was battling leukaemia
- Thorne’s carer Julie O’Neill said he died at 1.55am after going into ‘septic shock’
Former snooker star Willie Thorne has died in hospital in Spain after suffering ‘septic shock’.
The 66-year-old was surrounded by his family when he died at 1.55am following respiratory failure, his carer Julie O’Neill said.
Thorne, who announced he was battling leukaemia in March, was taken to hospital last week with dangerously low blood pressure.
The 66-year-old (pictured in 1994), who announced he was battling leukaemia in March, was taken to hospital last week with a dangerously low blood pressure
Thorne’s carer Julie O’Neill wrote on the GoFundMe that Thorne (pictured) died at 1.55am after going into sepsis shock
He was married to ex-Miss Great Britain winner Jill Saxby (left, together) and lived in Broughton Astley, Leicestershire. He starred as part of snooker’s ‘Matchroom Mob’ and went on to become a BBC commentator and appear on the 2007 version of Strictly Come Dancing (right)
A GoFundMe page set up to help pay for his treatment had surpassed £17,000 by Tuesday lunchtime.
Ms O’Neill said on the website Thorne was not responding to any treatment so the hospital decided to ‘turn off the machines’.
She wrote: ‘I was with him all the way to his end and reading out messages to him from people.
‘He passed away very peacefully and without pain listening to his children saying they love him that gives me some comfort in this difficult time.
‘Over here in Spain everything happens very quickly so today myself and his family will he making plans and will inform you accordingly.’
A GoFundMe page set up to help pay for Thorne’s (pictured in 2010) treatment had surpassed £17,000 by Tuesday lunchtime
Ms O’Neill said on the website Thorne (pictured in 1988) was not responding to any treatment so the hospital decided to ‘turn off the machines’
She added she was grateful for everyone involved in the former snooker player’s care and all the money raised would go towards his funeral.
Thorne reached two World Championship quarter-finals and won his only ranking title, the Mercantile Credit Classic, in 1982.
He starred as part of snooker’s ‘Matchroom Mob’ and went on to become a BBC commentator and appear on the 2007 version of Strictly Come Dancing.
He partnered with Kiwi professional Erin Boag but the pair finished in 12th place out of 14.
He was married to ex-Miss Great Britain winner Jill Saxby and lived in Broughton Astley, Leicestershire.
Thorne (pictured when he first got into the game) reached two World Championship quarter-finals and won his only ranking title, the Mercantile Credit Classic, in 1982
Thorne (pictured with Jack Fincham on ITV last year) later battled bankruptcy after admitting he had borrowed up to £1million in order to feed his gambling addiction
In nearby Leicester he ran a club where fellow pro snooker player Mark Selby used to play as a junior.
Thorne was also good friends with former England footballer Gary Lineker, who said he was ‘deeply, deeply saddened’ to hear of his death.
Lineker tweeted: ‘Deeply, deeply saddened to hear that my friend Willie Thorne has passed away. One of life’s great characters.
‘A marvellous snooker player and a lovely man, who’s potted his final black much too soon. RIP Willie.’
Thorne later battled bankruptcy after admitting he had borrowed up to £1million in order to feed his gambling addiction.
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