Ross Smith has sent a message of support to Cameron Menzies after he was taken ill during their World Matchplay Darts match in Blackpool. Menzies was forced to withdraw from the competition following a medical incident on stage.
Menzies taken ill during match
During the fourth leg, Menzies appeared to stumble and slumped over. Smith was among the first to assist before medics attended to him. The 37-year-old was later cleared to return to his hotel room, with the incident attributed to high blood pressure.
The PDC confirmed in a statement: "Cameron Menzies was taken ill during his round two match against Ross Smith at the Betfred World Matchplay on Wednesday evening. Cameron experienced high blood pressure, which caused him to feel dizzy and subsequently faint. Following an assessment by the on-site medical team, Cameron was deemed well enough to return to his accommodation. We wish Cameron all the best and look forward to seeing him back in action soon."
Smith's message of support
Smith, who was trailing 2-1 at the time, posted on social media: "So glad my good friend @CameronMenzies is ok. Health comes before anything. You will come back stronger than ever love ya mate."
Menzies' withdrawal means Smith progresses to the quarter-finals, where he will face Gerwyn Price, who beat Rob Cross 11-5. Menzies had earlier defeated former world champion Luke Humphries in the previous round.
Pundits react
Speaking on Sky Sports, pundit Mark Webster said Smith's focus would be on Menzies' wellbeing. "Smith was obviously concerned. He'll be offering his support. While the medics are seeing to Cameron, he's got to stay on the practice board. But ultimately it's just about hoping that Cameron is okay at the minute."
Fellow pundit Glen Durrant added: "I echo the thoughts of everybody; right now, it's all about Cameron Menzies. He's in tip top form at the moment. It's a real tough one to take."
