Snooker legend Willie Thorne placed in induced coma

Photo of Willie Thorne Credit: PA Wire/PA Wire/PA Images

Snooker veteran Willie Thorne has been placed in an induced coma in a Spanish hospital after suffering respiratory failure.

The 66-year old star who lived in Broughton Astley in Leicestershire, had moved to Spain earlier, after announcing he was battling leukaemia in March this year.

He was taken to hospital last week with dangerously low blood pressure.

A GoFundMe page set up to help pay for his treatment has already raised thousands of pounds.

He starred as part of snooker's 'Matchroom Mob' and went on to become a BBC commentator. Credit: PA Images

Writing on the GoFundMe page, Mr Thorne's carer Julie O'Neill wrote:

Mr Thorne reached two World Championship quarter-finals and won his only ranking title in 1982.

He later fought bankruptcy after admitting he had borrowed up to a million pounds to feed his gambling addiction.

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