Darts professional Matt Clark recently shared a frightening experience of being advised to ‘rest or die’ after being hospitalized for a severe blood clot. The 57-year-old athlete from Dartford had to step away from the World Seniors Tour due to doctors warning him that his life was in jeopardy unless he made significant lifestyle changes.
Clark, who held a PDC Tour Card from 2003 to 2017 and then again from 2019 to 2022, achieved his best performance at the World Championships in 2006, advancing to the last 32 before being stopped by Phil Taylor. After losing his Tour Card, he transitioned to the WDF circuit.
In a candid discussion about his health scare, Clark revealed the seriousness of his situation, stating, “Midway through the seniors tour, I got a life-threatening blood clot in a not very pleasant place.” He added, “When you are literally sat in front of a doctor and they say, ‘If you do anything and that moves, you’re dead,’ it kind of gives you a new perspective on life.”
He continued to detail his struggles during an appearance on the Tungsten Tales podcast, mentioning how he had to receive hospital treatment even during his participation in TV events for the seniors tour. Clark kept his health issues private at the time, attributing it to a leg problem to avoid using it as an excuse.
Despite ongoing health challenges, Clark made a remarkable comeback to the WDF World Championship as the No. 7 seed and is set to compete against Francois Schweyen from Belgium in the last 16. Notably, Clark’s past achievements include winning the 1999 Canadian Open and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2008 World Matchplay.
The PDC World Darts Championship is scheduled to begin on December 11, with fans able to watch all matches exclusively live through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.
