Van Barneveld treated by paramedics after collapsing at Players Championship event

Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld collapsed during the PDC Players Championship 8 event on Friday and was treated by paramedics.

Dutch darts great Van Barneveld was defeated 6-1 by Ryan Searle in the Milton Keynes event and fell ill soon after the match.

The tournament was brought to a temporary halt so the 53-year-old could receive medical attention in the arena, but he did not require hospital treatment.

A statement from the PDC on its official Twitter page read: "Raymond van Barneveld received medical treatment following a collapse at Friday's Players Championship 8.

"Van Barneveld was defeated in the first round of the PDC Super Series 2 event in Milton Keynes, and later required medical assistance after becoming unwell in the arena.

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"He was treated by paramedics but has not required hospital treatment, and returned to his hotel at the Marshall Arena to be further monitored.

"Play was suspended whilst Van Barneveld received treatment before resuming at 1445 GMT."

The cause of Van Barneveld's turn is unknown, but his manager Ben de Kok told Dutch outlet AD: "Heart scans were taken, there was nothing wrong with that.

"He was taken to his room by people from the ambulance. He is now in bed. Maybe he has eaten too little. You can live with diabetes, but not with heart disease."

Van Barneveld made his return to darts in February, a little over a year after retiring from the sport, and claimed a PDC tour card at qualifying school.