Snooker legend Willie Thorne has passed away aged 66, following a short battle with leukaemia.
On Sunday (14 June) Willie went into respiratory failure and was put into an induced coma, according to his friend and carer Julie O'Neill.
A GoFundMe page set up to help fund his care and living costs has been updated to say: "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!
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"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."
The message continues: "Thank you so very much to everyone that has been involved in Willie's care, you have all been absolutely amazing and Willie couldn't have asked for better.
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"Thank you for all the donations that enabled him to get the care he needed! This will now pay for his funeral."
Thorne, who won 14 worldwide titles and reached the final of the UK Championship in 1985, was taken to hospital in Spain last week with dangerously low blood pressure.
The fundraising page was initially set up to collect money to pay for treatment - because he wasn't entitled to any form of relief from either Spain or the UK.
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The page outlined: "Willie's life is no secret... he is on his own and he makes his money through appearances, commentating etc. Which has, for obvious reasons, had to stop.
"He isn't entitled to any form of relief over here, he hasn't had a contract here, and It's looking like he won't receive any of the available funds in England!
"So he is left in a very vulnerable situation where money is nearly depleted."
RIP Willie.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: News
