World Darts star James Hurrell reveals he ‘nearly died’ before life-saving bowel surgery as he makes plea to fans
JAMES HURRELL “nearly died” before life-saving bowel surgery — all because he refused to get checked out by doctors.
A theme of this World Championship is for blokes in the crowd to check their risk for Prostate Cancer, as some men tend not to seek medical advice in the first place.
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James Hurrell has revealed he ‘nearly died’ in 2017 after suffering a twisted bowelCredit: Getty
In Hurrell’s case, he declined to see his GP, even though he could not go to the loo properly for weeks or even months.
It was only when the bricklayer was violently sick one day, and noticed blood in the sink, that he finally acted.
Ahead of facing Stephen Bunting, he said: “In 2017, I nearly had a twisted bowel and nearly died. I had to pull out of the Lakeside Worlds.
“I didn’t go to the doctor. It’s a man thing. I used to go to tournaments and I’d come back with pain up in my ribs.
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“Once, I got up in the night and was just sick in the kitchen sink.
“There was blood and that’s when I decided to go to the doctors.
“I didn’t throw darts for two and a half years years. I was really ill. I went down to seven or eight stone.”
As he went down to the theatre for his op, his dad tapped him on the head and talked to him about his goals once he, fingers crossed, had recovered.
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Hurrell has urged fans to get themselves checked if they have any health concernsCredit: Getty
The plan was to return to top-level darts — firstly by captaining England on the BDO circuit and then playing on the PDC ranks at Ally Pally.
He managed to achieve both aims and the world No 63 will now try to rock Bunting – the No 4 seed.
And Oxfordshire-born Hurrell, whose nickname is Hillbilly, added: “I had a goal and I did it.
“My dad rubbed my head when I went down in the wheelchair for the operation and we spoke about my goals.
“Maybe six months to a year after my operation, I was captain of England on the BDO.
“So the performance I put in after my illness – after my operation – honestly, it was down to my dad just rubbing me on my head.
“My message to anybody with health issues is… don’t be scared to go to the doctor. Please don’t be scared to go.
“I did. I was scared but I went in the end. And I was just at the right time.”
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