Willie Thorne, the former snooker player, has died aged 66 after a three-month battle with leukaemia.
Thorne, who won 14 worldwide titles and was a household name in the 1980s, was diagnosed with leukaemia in March and was placed in an induced coma on Sunday after suffering respiratory failure.
“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,” read a statement on Thorne’s GoFundMe page.
“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.
“Over here in Spain everything happens very quickly so today myself and his family will he making plans and will inform you accordingly!
“It disappoints me some what that people were tweeting he has passed away when he was still holding on and with us!
“I guess that’s celebrity life….
“Thank you so very much to everyone that has been involved in Willies care you have all been absolutely amazing and Willie couldn’t have asked for better
“Thank you for all the donations that enabled him to get the care he needed!
“This will now pay for his funeral.
“Thank you for all the well wishes and beautiful messages of support xxx.”
Thorne, who went on to work for the BBC and also appear on Strictly Come Dancing, has previously fought prostrate cancer.
Tributes were paid to the snooker legend from across the world of sport, including by his long-time friend Gary Lineker.
