Tributes quickly poured in for the Bristol-born dad-of-two. Former world champion Adrian Lewis said: “Sad to hear the passing of a legend.” Darts presenter Dave Clarke tweeted: “Such sad news, a really lovely fella.”

       Fordham once weighed 31st and downed 25 bottles of lager a day. But he shed much of his weight before contracting coronavirus in January.

       Back then he said: “My biggest fear is waking up one morning, not being able to breathe and being placed in the back of the ambulance – then not seeing my wife and children again.”