Raymond van Barneveld: Darts legend is ‘fine’ after collapsing at PDC Players Championship

Raymond van Barneveld is ‘fine’ after his collapse at the PDC Players Championship last Friday, his manager has confirmed.

The darts legend fell ill after being beaten by Ryan Searle in the first round of the event in Milton Keynes and was treated by paramedics.

Van Barneveld did not need to visit a hospital despite two ambulances arriving at the Marshall Arena, with his manager, Ben de Kok, suggesting the star felt faint because of his Type 2 diabetes.

Raymond van Barneveld, pictured at the World Darts Championship in 2019, is said to be feeling ‘fine’ after collapsing at an event in Milton Keynes last week

De Kok has now revealed that the 53-year-old is feeling ‘fine’ after recovering in his hotel room and that everything ‘looks normal again’

He told Dutch TV: ‘The game for which he had to keep the score took a long time. He probably ate too little or had too little sugar.

‘You don’t want to admit that to yourself at such a moment.

‘Medics put him on his side. He came and was picked up. But when he walked with security, he passed out again.

‘They spent an hour with him. Everyone had to leave the room and nobody knew what was going on.

‘Raymond is fine. I just talked to him. He is in bed now. When he passed out, he was pale, but he has red cheeks now.

The 53-year-old was treated by paramedics after feeling faint in Milton Keynes on Friday

‘Everything is fine and looks normal again.’

Van Barneveld collapsed after watching compatriot Jeffrey de Zwaan’s match and was put in the recovery position by paramedics. 

The five-time world champion attempted to get up but collapsed again. The PDC confirmed that he did not require hospital treatment.

Play was suspended while the Dutchman was receiving treatment but resumed at approximately 2.45pm on Friday, with Van Barneveld returning to his hotel room to recover and remain under observation.

‘Two ambulances came, but he was not transported there,’ De Kok told Dutch AD on Friday outlet. 

Van Barneveld’s manager says the Dutchman is ‘normal’ after recovering in his hotel room

‘Heart scans were taken, there was nothing wrong with that. He was taken to his room by people from the ambulance. He is now in bed.’

Van Barneveld’s manager suggested that the collapse may be related to his diabetes or heart disease. The Dutchman was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2009, and has kept a strict fitness regime over the years. 

De Kok added: ‘Maybe he has also eaten too little. You can live with diabetes, but not with heart disease.’