JAMES WADE is ‘still standing’ strong after rebuilding his career over the past two years following a scary health scare that shook him and his family.
The Machine fell ill and spent three nights in a German hospital after an episode backstage at the European Darts Open in Leverkusen in May 2022.
The dad-of-two, one of the sport’s most successful throwers, underwent a series of tests after he experienced a “racing heart, high blood pressure, nausea and dizziness”.
Severe dehydration was believed to be the cause of the illness but it was a worrying time for the Aldershot ace and all concerned.
Wade, 41, recalled: “I was rushed to hospital. This is not exaggerated but while I knew I was ill, I didn’t realise how ill I was.
“I had to make a phone call to my wife to say in the next six hours I’ll know if I’m going into intensive care or not.
“I was ill, really ill. The medics in Germany were absolutely brilliant. They have amazing medical people over there.
“They thought I was having a heart attack first of all. It was something else. I was really ill.
“The problem I have, where I can be fragile mentally, in terms of how I look at things and approach life, I really let it get to me upstairs.
“That was always my thought when I was going away: ‘How am I? Will I be alright?’
“Tests I had came back to say it wasn’t cancer. Which was a good thing.”
At that point, Wade was No.5 in the world and involved in the lucrative Premier League format.
Since then, he has not been back to the Prem and apart from one appearance in the 2023 European Championship final, he has tumbled down the rankings.
Over the past two years, he has gone out in the first hurdle of the Worlds, losing to Welshman Jim Williams in the 2023 tournament and then Canadian Matt Campbell last time.
Now up to 16th in the world, following two decent runs at the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, he is living up to his walk-on music – I’m Still Standing by Elton John.
His return to Ally Pally, where he has never made the final despite 17 attempts, will be this afternoon against either speedy Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena or Swiss newbie Stefan Bellmont.
Wade, a winner of 11 PDC major titles, said: “Considering how bad I was at darts for 12 months after that, I don’t think it has taken me that long to get back to where I should be.
“I was flying, then all of a sudden you drop down to 24 or 26.
“My target at the beginning of this year had been to get into the top 10 in the world.
“I believe I will win another major in the next 12 months given the way I am playing.
“Everything is alright, probably playing some of the best darts at times.
“I have been lucky. I have earned good money. I am unfortunate that I am in the public eye when I am having a bad day on stage. That’s a negative.
“But you have got to think of those people that have ordinary lives. Some people cannot afford to get a doctor’s appointment, they have to wait for the NHS.
“I’m still standing – well, just about! A bit more gravity now. But it’s good.”
