Darts legend Andy Fordham has handed away aged 59, months after admitting that he was ‘terrified’ of loss of life after being beset by well being issues in recent times.
On the peak of his profession, the Viking was topped world champion in 2004 after defeating Mervyn King on the BDO World Championship.
Fordham confronted well being issues throughout his life and as soon as weighed 31 stone, revealing that he would drink 25 bottles of lager a day.
A press release on the BDO web site mentioned: ‘The British Darts Organisation is deeply saddened to listen to of the lack of the darts legend Andy (The Viking) Fordham, a real gentleman of the sport who shall be deeply missed by all.
‘Our hearts and ideas are along with his household presently.’
He contracted coronavirus in January this yr and revealed to The Solar in a tearful interview that medical doctors warned him that the illness might hit him ‘in a short time’.
‘That is the scariest factor I’ve ever needed to face in my life,’ he mentioned.
‘My largest concern is waking up one morning, not having the ability to breathe and being positioned at the back of the ambulance – then not seeing my spouse and youngsters once more.
‘Once you get the virus you out of the blue realise all the pieces you are taking without any consideration.
‘I’m sitting pondering rather a lot about all of the issues I would miss if this virus overcomes me, like seeing my grandchildren develop up. I am simply hoping and praying I come by way of it.’
Darts icon Andy Fordham has died age 59 after being beset by well being issues over time. Pictured: with spouse Jenny in October 2020 – the final recognized picture of him earlier than his loss of life
The Bristol-born darts icon (above) died on Thursday along with his spouse, Jenny, by his aspect
The Bristol-born darts icon died on Thursday along with his spouse, Jenny, by his aspect, with The Solar reporting he suffered main organ failure.
Following Fordham’s world championship triumph, he confronted off towards Phil Taylor in a field workplace conflict titled The Showdown.
The 59-year-old was taken unwell through the match and defaulted at 5-2 with well being considerations raised after it got here to mild that he would drink closely earlier than taking to the oche.
Fordham’s remaining skilled look got here in 2018 on the World Masters. He was hospitalised in March 2020 with a bowel drawback, resulting in him having 16 litres of fluid drained from his physique.
His legendary feats of ingesting have been synonymous along with his profession as a fan-favourite, though he would later warn of the devastating affect alcohol had on his well being.
Fordham as soon as drank 62 bottles of Pils after celebrating he and his spouse Jenny’s first marriage ceremony anniversary in 2001.
Whereas showing on Superstar Match Membership in 2004, Fordham revealed he gave up ingesting beer and changed as a substitute drank six bottles of wine a day whereas on a five-day stag do in Tenerife.
Regardless of this, he would go on to win the programme’s largest loser problem, shedding greater than three stone.
As a teenage boy rising up in Charlton, south east London, he was nicknamed ‘The Whippet’ for his slender body, weighing solely 13st in his mid-20s.
Fordham’s remaining skilled look got here in 2018 on the World Masters. He was hospitalised in March 2020 with a bowel drawback, resulting in him having 16 litres of fluid drained from his physique
The place most athletes develop a style for ladies or quick automobiles, ‘The Viking’ was seduced by meals and booze – ballooning to thirty first at one level in his life
His legendary feats of ingesting have been synonymous along with his profession as a fan-favourite, though he would later warn of the devastating affect alcohol had on his well being
He was a eager track-and-field athlete and footballer, however in 1995 turned to darts and began operating his personal pub – the place his weight began to slowly enhance.
He instructed MailOnline of his weight reaching thirty first: ‘I by no means ate rather a lot, however I ate badly, grabbing comfort meals – takeaways, pizzas, kebabs – as a result of I used to be at all times so busy.
‘If I used to be working behind the bar, I would snack on peanuts or crisps, and I by no means exercised. After which there was the ingesting.
‘Trying again, I realise I used to be an alcoholic. I could not cease myself. I assumed I used to be in management however I wasn’t.
‘I’d begin ingesting as quickly as I went downstairs to open up the bar, at round 11am.
‘On a mean day, I would have as much as 25 bottles of lager and half a bottle of spirits – vodka, brandy or whisky.
‘Earlier than darts matches I would drink to calm my nerves. Folks assume alcoholics slur and fall far and wide, however I by no means drank to get drunk.’
The place most athletes develop a style for ladies or quick automobiles, ‘The Viking’ was seduced by meals and booze.
As an alternative of a bathe or motivational music earlier than taking to the oche, Fordham confessed to a way more fundamental preparation – he instructed the Telegraph in 2005: ‘Earlier than a match I wish to chill out with 25 bottles of Holsten Pils and 6 steak n’ kidney pies.’
However the food regimen was a part of the issue, it was integral to his success. In the identical interview he mentioned: ‘I keep in mind my first ever world champs, I used to be extremely nervous.
‘I used to be actually scared. So earlier than my first recreation I drunk shed hundreds and the worst factor that might’ve occurred, occurred: it labored.
‘And from then on, I felt I needed to do it once more. It helped the focus, numbed all the pieces, you were not conscious of what was happening behind you, you could possibly simply focus on what was in entrance of you, the board.’
On the peak of his profession, the Viking was topped world champion in 2004 after defeating Mervyn King on the BDO World Championship
However all through his illustrious profession, Fordham confronted quite a few well being scares. Pictured: His spouse, Jenny, shares an image of ‘The Viking’ as he recovers in hospital in February 2020
All through his illustrious profession, he confronted quite a few well being scares.
In 2005 when he performed Phil Taylor in a PDC v WDC occasion entitled ‘the Showdown’, ‘The Viking collapsed on the oche.
A yr later he was resulting from play on the Lakeside, however pulled out after experiencing respiration difficulties backstage.
Andy was rushed to close by Frimley Park Hospital, the place X-rays revealed that an enormous build-up of fluid in his chest had crushed one in all his lungs.
He was positioned within the hospital’s excessive dependency unit and for every week his life hung within the stability.
This second well being scare prompted him to shed weight, shedding 14st with the assistance of companion Jenny and their two kids Raymond and Emily, earlier than returning to darts in 2007.
However in January that yr, ‘The Viking’ collapsed whereas making ready for the British Dart Organisation World Championship’s opening match.
He was rushed to hospital after struggling with extreme chest pains and respiration points, and had a minor stroke.
Andy was recognized with cirrhosis – greater than 70 per cent of his liver has been destroyed – and was instructed that except he stopped ingesting, he’d have only some years to reside.
Fordham revealed on the time that he aimed to be again enjoying darts inside ‘six weeks’.
After being instructed he may want life-saving bowel surgical procedure final March, Fordham instructed the Solar he would ‘hold combating till I can not struggle anymore’.
He added: ‘There have been just a few issues gone flawed and it is all all the way down to alcohol.
‘In case you drink an excessive amount of, take a look at my story – you see it is not value it. I am not happy with it.
‘It does not simply smash your life, it might additionally smash many different individuals’s lives too.’
Tributes have poured in for the fan-favourite from the world over of darts this night
Tributes have poured in for the fan-favourite from the world over of darts.
Former world champion Adrian Lewis mentioned: ‘Unhappy to listen to the passing of a legend Andy Fordham our ideas are along with his household.’
‘Such unhappy information that Andy Fordham has died. A real legend and gentleman of the game. My ideas are along with his household and pals,’ Rob Cross posted on Twitter.
Matthew Edgar tweeted: ‘Unhappy to see the passing of a legend at the moment. RIP Andy Fordham.’
Former professional Kevin Painter mentioned: ‘Completely devastated to listen to the information that Andy Fordham has handed away, a darting legend and one of many nicest guys on the planet, ideas are with the household presently… RIP Andy.’
Darts presenters Dave Clarke and Bobby George each shared their condolences on Twitter.
Clarke tweeted: ‘Such unhappy information, a very beautiful fella,’ whereas George wrote: ‘Simply heard the devastating information that Andy Fordham has handed away. He was a mild large and cherished by all.’