Related Articles
Former snooker and Strictly Come Dancing star Willie Thorne has died in hospital in Spain after suffering ‘septic shock’ following respiratory failure.
The 66-year-old was surrounded by his children – who told him how much he was loved – at Torrevieja Hospital, near his rented Alicante flat, when he died at 1.55am.
Thorne, who announced he was battling leukaemia in March, was taken to hospital last week with dangerously low blood pressure and was put on a ventilator in an induced coma on Sunday.
His carer Julie O’Neill said on a GoFundMe page he was not responding to treatment – including three types of antibiotics for three different infections – so doctors decided to ‘turn off the machines’.
The sporting legend, who was married to former Miss Great Britain Jill Saxby until last year, was first admitted to hospital on May 2 and had three blood transfusions, treatment for a virus, MRI scans and heart checks.
Ms O’Neill 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.’
She added she was grateful for everyone involved in the former snooker player’s care and the £17,000 raised would go towards his funeral.
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 septic shock at Torrevieja Hospital
He was married to ex-Miss Great Britain winner Jill Saxby (left, together in 2010) 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)
Carer Ms O’Neill said on a GoFundMe page (pictured) he was not responding to treatment – including three types of antibiotics for three different infections – so doctors decided to ‘turn off the machines’
Carer Ms O’Neill’s full post on the GoFundMe page revealing that Willie Thorne had died this morning in hospital in Spain
Thorne turned pro in 1976 aged 21 and went on to reach two World Championship quarter-finals, winning his only ranking title – the Mercantile Credit Classic – in 1985. He became popularly known as Mr Maximum for holding the record for the most maximum 147 breaks.
He starred as part of snooker’s ‘Matchroom Mob’ and went on to become a BBC and Sky commentator and appear on the 2007 version of Strictly Come Dancing, coming 12th with professional partner Erin Boag.
His first marriage to Fiona Walker, who he had twin boys and a daughter with, ended in 1990 when he went off with shop assistant Denise Foster in 1990.
While he was married to Ms Saxby, now 60, they lived in Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, until they split after 24 years – mainly due to the sports star’s gambling addiction, which saw him borrow up to £1million.
Ms Saxby had been trying to make their relationship work, but his addiction had made it impossible. Days after the couple split, Thorne’s £475,000 home was repossessed after reports the mortgage had not been paid.
The house, which had been shared by the couple, had fallen into disrepair while the pair were living in Spain. In 2015, the sport star revealed how his wife stopped him from killing himself over the £1million gambling debts a year earlier.
He had taken a knife to a hotel and written letters to family members – only to be found by Ms Saxby in the nick of time. It was the second time he had tried to kill himself, having swallowed a half empty tub of sleeping pills in 2002 and later waking up in Leicester Royal Infirmary.
His lifestyle led to health problems and he had a mild stroke in 2010, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in June 2015, followed by another stroke in the September.
The icon revealed in a tweet on March 18 this year he had been diagnosed with leukaemia. It read: ‘I realise everybody is having a tough time. Mines just got worse I’ve been diagnosed with leukaemia I’m devastated. Start chemotherapy tomorrow I’m in Spain were the health care is hopefully second to none. Love to you all Willie x.’
The snooker player, who retired from the sport that year, previously told of how money lenders threatened to chop off his wife’s fingers and take her jewellery to pay off loans.
He said in 2015: ‘I couldn’t see a way out. I’d caused so much grief to so many people. It’s so cowardly. I’ve three children, two stepchildren and grandchildren and life in a nice house with a loving wife… yet I couldn’t see a way through it.’
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’
His first marriage to Fiona Walker (pictured on their wedding day), who he had twin boys and a daughter with, ended in 1990 when he went off with shop assistant Denise Foster in 1990
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
Former England and Tottenham footballer Gary Lineker – who was close friends with Thorne – lead the legions of stars to pay tributes this morning.
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.’
Fellow BBC presenter Gabby Logan posted: ‘So sad to hear about the death of Willie Thorne. I loved watching his career, we made friends on Strictly Come Dancing where he was the loveliest ”team mate”.’
Snooker great Ronnie O’Sullivan put: ‘ust want to say what a beautiful man, big heart great company. Had a week in ireland with him I’ll never forget. Will be missed by a lot of people in the Snooker world. RIP WT.’
Scottish former professional snooker player Stephen Hendry said: ‘Very sad news today,Willie was one of my favourite people in snooker. I know he had faults and weaknesses(we all do) but he was one of the games greatest ever characters,I’ll miss him.’ Jimmy ‘The Whirlwind’ White added: ‘Rest in peace Mr Maximum man.’
Former rival and co-commentator Dennis Taylor showed his respects online, saying: ‘Devastating news about Willie Thorne. We laughed our way around the world for 45 years. RIP Great One.
‘That was my name for him. The Great WT. Lots of love to his family.’
World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn, the father of boxing promoter Eddie, said: ‘I had the pleasure of managing the Great WT as part of the Matchroom team in the 1980s.
‘He was a larger than life personality and he was a major part of the rebirth of snooker at that time.
‘It’s so sad to hear he has passed away and our thoughts are with his family.’
Darts commentator Bobby George tweeted: Just heard the sad news that Willie Thorne has passed away at such a young age … our thoughts are with his family and friends #RIPWillie will always remember our dance sketch to ‘walk this way’ mate.’
World darts champion Keith Deller put: ‘Sad news that our friend Willie Thorne has passed away. Willie was a very charismatic person. RIP Willie.’
Ex footballer Mark Bright wrote: ‘RIP The Great WT. Very saddened to hear the news that Willie Thorne has passed away. A warm and charming person, a great time to be in Leicester when he won the Classic in 1985.’
Former Leicester Tigers rugby star Austin Healey said: ‘Really sad to hear Willie Thorne has passed away, he was a brilliant guy to be around #rip.’
Retired Wales captain John Hartson posted: ‘Sad to hear that Willie Thorne has passed away, was with him just before the lockdown he was in great form.. thoughts and condolences are with the Thorne family. RIP Willie.’
MailOnline columnist and Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan said: ‘RIP Willie Thorne, 66. Great snooker player & a wonderful character. Sad news.’
Dan Walker, who presents BBC Breakfast and Football Focus, also paid his condolences: ‘Really sad to hear about the death of Willie Thorne. He was a big part of the golden age of snooker on TV and full of fun away from the table.’
And Pointless presenter Richard Osman added: ‘So sorry to hear of the death of Willie Thorne. Spent lots of time with him in Sheffield, and came back with so many funny, but unrepeatable stories. RIP.’
Thorne previously said he started gambling during his snooker career, but upon retiring in 2002, found it harder to fund his habit.
He said he had struggled to cope after giving up the sport, where he had once reached number seven in the world rankings.
He began to accept money from lenders who knew he could not resist borrowing money in the hope of being rewarded with a big win.
In his 2011 autobiography, Taking A Punt On My Life, Thorne spoke of his love of horse racing, and how it left him with huge debts.
He revealed in the book he had tried to take his own life in March 2002, a few days after his 48th birthday, by taking sleeping pills but was discovered by his step-son, then aged 11, and treated in hospital.
‘It was a terrible thing to do,’ he said of the 2002 attempt in his autobiography. ‘I was taking the easy way out and leaving her [Ms Saxby] to to mop up the mess I had created.’
In his 2011 autobiography, Taking A Punt On My Life, Thorne – who was nicknamed Mr Maximum – spoke of his love of horse racing, and how it left him with huge debts
The snooker legend last year appeared on The All New Monty: Who Bares Wins on ITV with Ashley Banjo, Kelvin Fletcher, Alexander Armstrong, Rav Wilding, Willie Thorne, Matt Evers, Joe Pasquale, Jack Fincham and Jason Cundy
Where are they now? From gambling, alcohol and drug addictions to marriage break ups, the troubled private lives of Willie Thorne’s snooker rivals
John Virgo:
The former snooker star has been very open about his battles with gambling, which once saw him borrow £200,000 to fund the habit.
In the 80s he lent the eye-watering sum against his mortgage over the course of six years in what he called a ‘vicious circle’ he became caught in with Willie Thorne.
The sportsman would gamble heavily and lose £10,000 on horses in just two weeks as his career earnings slumped.
He has also had two failed marriages in his life, but said his biggest regret was time wasted on playing politics as chairman of the WPBSA world governing body. He believes it cut his career short and left him unsure of what to do after snooker.
Former snooker star John Virgo (right, with Willie Thorne in 1983) has been very open about his battles with gambling, which once saw him borrow £200,000 to fund the habit
He said: ‘Then I got a phone call asking me if I wanted to do a TV show called Big Break with Jim Davidson.’ Running from 1991-2002, the show resurrected both men’s careers. Its success led to his own range of waistcoats, books, apps and panto appearances.
But he reckons his luckiest moment was finally getting a date with a woman he’d known for two decades – Rosie Ries, the publishing executive, who he now lives with in a four-bedroom detached house in Surrey.
Stephen Hendry:
Scottish former professional snooker player Stephen Hendry was the undisputed king of snooker, seeing off established players such as Jimmy White and Steve Davis while barely out of school.
But in 2018 his livid ex-wife hit out at him, painting a less palatable portrait of Hendry – one of a man whose vanity, selfishness and adultery destroyed their marriage.
Their protracted divorce proceedings raised more questions than answers. Despite Hendry’s extraordinary sporting success and multi-million-pound winnings, forensic accountants have tried – and failed – to find any trace of a fortune, leaving his perplexed wife, the mother to his two sons, devastated and, she claimed, destitute.
Scottish former professional snooker player Stephen Hendry was the undisputed king of snooker, seeing off established players such as Jimmy White and Steve Davis while barely out of school
Amanda – who shared his life for nearly 30 years, 19 of them as his wife – told The Mail on Sunday in an exclusive interview: ‘I thought we had the perfect marriage and I trusted him more than anyone in the world. It wasn’t until I filed for divorce that I discovered the true extent of his betrayal.’
The story is all the sadder as in his book Hendry, 49, revealed the child they lost in 2003 had been an IVF baby – something Amanda hadn’t even shared with her own family.
His bald statement of hoping to have a strong relationship with their two remaining sons, Blaine, 21, and Carter, 14, left her seething as she claimed he had seen them rarely since he walked out of the family home in December 2013.
Hendry first turned professional at the age of 16 in 1985, shortly after meeting Amanda at a holiday camp where he and her sister were competing in snooker tournaments.
The nature of the sport and his incredible success – seven world titles, his first in 1990 aged 21 against Jimmy White – meant he spent long periods away from home as his sons were growing up.
But the knowledge a professional sportsman’s career is time-limited, coupled with frequent promises that they would all spend time together once he retired, saw Amanda managing everything at home without complaint.
Hendry met Lauren Thundow, a former children’s entertainer almost half his age, when she was selling merchandise after a snooker exhibition. Hendry was living with Miss Thundow in Berkshire.
Jimmy White:
Jimmy- nicknamed ‘The Whirlwind’ for his aggressive, rapid style of play- has put his hellraising days behind him. The 58-year-old, who was awarded an MBE in 1999, said he has swapped ‘nights out’ for ‘pamper nights in’.
The snooker ace previously admitted to blowing £10,000 a month on crack cocaine at the height of his fame in the 1980s.
Jimmy White – nicknamed ‘The Whirlwind’ for his aggressive, rapid style of play – has put his hellraising days behind him. He is pictured with Willie Thorne in 1984
He said: ‘Over the years I have been in a lot of trouble but I’ve always managed to switch off and play. To be honest, most of my troubles – bankruptcy, drinking, gambling – were self-inflicted.’
Jimmy famously never won the World Championship, losing six times. Despite that the popular ‘People’s Champion’ won a host of other tournaments such as the Masters and the UK Championship.
He was previously married to Maureen Mockler and they have five children together: Lauren, 37, Ashleigh 31, Tommy, 20, Breeze, 28, and Georgia, 29.
He is dating darts walk-on girl Jade Slusarczyk, who is 24 years younger than him. Jade was a winner of Miss Blackpool Gazette in 2011, and has worked at big darts and snooker events all over the country.
Thorne suffered a mild stroke in 2010, in the middle of a thank you speech at a charity event, which he believed may have been due to stress from his gambling addiction.
He was able to get his betting under control but when his mother Nancy died in 2013, he fell back into it. He was being encouraged by professional gamblers and went from staking around £1,000 to betting up to £20,000 on a single race.
In 2016 the sporting icon was photographed on gambling machines known as the ‘crack cocaine’ of casinos as he tried to clear his £1million debt.
He was seen playing games at a casino in Sheffield where he has been covering the World Snooker Championships for the BBC as a commentator.
Thorne was seen on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) which earned their ‘cocaine’ nickname because they are so addictive – allowing bets of up to £750, according to the Sunday Mirror.
He told the newspaper: ‘It’s not a big deal. It was only 20 quid and I was just passing some time. There’s no problem at all.’
Willie Thorne dies aged 66: How troubled snooker star nicknamed ‘Mr Maximum’ was one of the sport’s most famous names but later struggled with bankruptcy and gambling addiction
Willie Thorne is pictured at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, in 2004
A famous missed blue and a long-standing battle with bankruptcy serve as ill-fitting epitaphs for a snooker player who was a mainstay in the top echelons of the game during its unprecedented peak.
Willie Thorne, who has died at the age of 66, was once afforded a place in Chas ‘n’ Dave’s ‘Matchroom Mob’, which hit the charts with the song ‘Snooker Loopy’, lamenting: ‘Old Willie Thorne, his hair’s all gawn…’
Yet alongside Tony Meo, Thorne was one of only two members of the group who failed to clinch one of his sport’s major titles.
He was haunted by his error in the 1985 UK Championship final against Steve Davis, when, leading 13-8 and on the verge of extending his lead to within two of victory, he missed the simplest of blues off its spot.
Writing many years later, Thorne admitted: ‘I went back to my seat and the doubts kicked in straightaway. I was still 13-9 in front, but all I could think about was the way I’d failed in big games in the past.’
Thorne, who was born in Leicester on March 4, 1954, only started playing snooker at the age of 14 but within two years had been crowned national under-16 champion.
Swiftly turning professional, he came to be regarded as one of the sport’s finest break builders, and would go on to become only the third player to secure 100 competitive centuries.
Thorne reached his first of two World Championship quarter-finals in 1982, where he pushed the eventual champion Alex Higgins, and three years later, just three months before his painful loss to Davis, he won his first and only world ranking title, beating Cliff Thorburn to lift the Mercantile Credit Classic.
But Thorne was already struggling with a gambling addiction, and his run to the UK semi-finals in 1987 – where he was crushed 9-2 by Davis – represented the final major success of a generally unfulfilled playing career.
Thorne revealed the extent of his gambling issues in an interview with the Guardian in 2004, recalling an incident in which he placed a bet of £38,000 on John Parrott losing a game, because he had lost his cue.
Thorne was commentating on the game for the BBC, and admitted: ‘I put £38,000 on Parrott to lose because he didn’t have his cue, but he ended up winning the bloody game.
‘I’m having to close the commentary by saying it’s unbelievable, spewing up as I say it.’
Thorne, who worked as a BBC commentator for 30 years, later revealed he lost £1million to gambling in his career. He was declared bankrupt in 2016.
He remained a familiar figure within the sport and competed in the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 with partner Erin Boag, being voted out in 12th place.
A keen Leicester City fan and long-time close friend of Gary Lineker, Thorne announced he was beginning treatment for leukaemia in March 2020.
He died on Wednesday morning at the age of 66 having being placed into an induced coma in hospital in Spain after suffering respiratory failure.
Lineker was one of the first to pay tribute, describing Thorne as ‘one of life’s great characters’ who had ‘potted his final black much too soon.’
Source link
