‘They thought it was a heart attack’ – James Wade opens up on frightening health scare after being rushed to hospital
James Wade has reflected on his health scare at the European Darts Open two years ago. The Machine was forced to withdraw from the tournament before his semi-final in Leverkusen after being taken ill. Wade was taken ill at the 2022 European Darts OpenGetty Wade’s symptoms included a racing heart, high blood pressure and dizziness as he was rushed to hospital. Ahead of his opening match at this year’s PDC World Darts Championship, the 41-year-old has opened up about the incident. The world number 16 told the Mirror: “I was rushed to hospital. This is not an exaggeration, because I don’t have to do that and I knew I was ill, but I didn’t realise how ill I was. “I had to make a phone call to my wife to say in six hours I will know if I am going into intensive care or not. “They were brilliant, absolutely brilliant, amazing medical people over there in Germany. They thought I was having a heart attack at first, but it was something else. I really let it get to me upstairs. “When I was going away my first thought was, ‘Will I be all right?’ I had the tests done to say it wasn’t cancer, which is a good thing, but it will never go away. “I was No.3 in the world at the time, I was flying, then all of a sudden you drop down to 24 or 26. “My target at the beginning of this year was to get back into the top 10 in the world and I’m not far away. I should be there, maybe top eight. “But everything I’ve achieved has been in a golden era for darts, against the two greatest players of all time in my opinion. Not bad for a boy from Ash. “I wish I had the lifestyle of a footballer – how often they play – or a boxer, although I wouldn’t want to get punched in the head for a living. But, yeah, I’ve rolled with the punches – a punchbag, but I have also punched a few people as well.” The Machine faces Jermaine Wattimena in the second round on MondayGetty Wade is a four-time semi-finalist at Alexandra Palace but has yet to add the world title to his 11 Major triumphs. The 16th seed begins his campaign on Monday afternoon against Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena in the second round. Both players find themselves in the same quarter of the draw as defending champion Luke Humphries. Cool Hand was in action on the opening night, winning all nine legs in a whitewash victory over Thibault Tricole.
James Wade has reflected on his health scare at the European Darts Open two years ago.
The Machine was forced to withdraw from the tournament before his semi-final in Leverkusen after being taken ill.
Wade’s symptoms included a racing heart, high blood pressure and dizziness as he was rushed to hospital.
Ahead of his opening match at this year’s PDC World Darts Championship, the 41-year-old has opened up about the incident.
The world number 16 told the Mirror: “I was rushed to hospital. This is not an exaggeration, because I don’t have to do that and I knew I was ill, but I didn’t realise how ill I was.
“I had to make a phone call to my wife to say in six hours I will know if I am going into intensive care or not.
“They were brilliant, absolutely brilliant, amazing medical people over there in Germany. They thought I was having a heart attack at first, but it was something else. I really let it get to me upstairs.
“When I was going away my first thought was, ‘Will I be all right?’ I had the tests done to say it wasn’t cancer, which is a good thing, but it will never go away.
“I was No.3 in the world at the time, I was flying, then all of a sudden you drop down to 24 or 26.
“My target at the beginning of this year was to get back into the top 10 in the world and I’m not far away. I should be there, maybe top eight.
“But everything I’ve achieved has been in a golden era for darts, against the two greatest players of all time in my opinion. Not bad for a boy from Ash.
“I wish I had the lifestyle of a footballer – how often they play – or a boxer, although I wouldn’t want to get punched in the head for a living. But, yeah, I’ve rolled with the punches – a punchbag, but I have also punched a few people as well.”
Wade is a four-time semi-finalist at Alexandra Palace but has yet to add the world title to his 11 Major triumphs.
The 16th seed begins his campaign on Monday afternoon against Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena in the second round.
Both players find themselves in the same quarter of the draw as defending champion Luke Humphries.
Cool Hand was in action on the opening night, winning all nine legs in a whitewash victory over Thibault Tricole.
