Snooker legend dies after leukaemia battle

SNOOKER legend Willie Thorne (pictured) has died aged 66 after a short battle with leukaemia. Thorne enjoyed a 26-year playing career in professional snooker, winning 14 worldwide titles and reaching the UK Championship final in 1985, before moving into commentary with the BBC.

The former world No.7 had been in an induced coma in the intensive care ward at Torrevieja Hospital, Spain, after suffering respiratory failure on Sunday.

Thorne was diagnosed with leukaemia back in March and has had several health issues since, while undergoing chemotherapy treatment while residing in his rented flat in Alicante.

He had to undergo three blood transfusions following his initial diagnosis, before returning to hospital in May for heart checks and an MRI scan.

His latest admission to hospital was following a drop in his blood pressure to dangerously low levels, with medical staff opting to place him in an induced coma.

Despite being placed on a ventilator, he sadly passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

A message on his GoFundMe page read: “It is with a very heavy and broken heart that I have to officially announce that at 1.55am this morning Willie Thorne lost his battle and passed away!

“Willie went into septic shock and was not responding to any treatment so the decision was made by the hospital to turn off the machines

“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.”