Steve Douglas crashed out of the World Professional Darts Championships at the second round stage on Tuesday but was just thankful to be there.

The 35-year-old from Gillingham suffered a heart attack three weeks before the pinnacle of the BDO season at Lakeside.

Yet he was still able to claim a first round win over Gary Stone on Sunday to set up a match with last year’s runner-up, Tony O’Shea, which he lost 4-1.

Douglas said: "Even if I was healthy, I would have been the underdog but he did a professional job. I didn’t have a lot of energy and felt it by the end of Tuesday night.

"The first two sets I was feeling pretty good but then after the break it as a bit ‘whoa’. It was just a game too far but I didn’t think I would have even got past the first match."

Douglas suffered his heart attack while practising at the Strand Social Club, where he works, and he thanked the "fantastic" work done by medical staff.