Former world champion Tony David was given only six months to live in infected blood scandal

Former darts world champion Tony David has revealed that he was told by his doctors that he had only six months to live after receiving a blood plasma contaminated with hepatitis C.

David caused a huge shock at Lakeside in 2002 by becoming the first Australian darter ever to become world champion. That year was only one of two times he managed to get past the first round in his six Lakeside appearances.

Seven years after winning the Lakeside title, his life hung by a thread after he was diagnosed with stage 4 liver disease. The cause of his illness was a blood plasma he had received. This blood plasma had been given to David at a young age, but it was later found to be infected with hepatitis C.

"I had collapsed. Doctors basically told me I had about six months to live,' David told 9News. "What happened in the UK happened here, too,' David added.

The now 56-year-old David, who was known as the 'Deadly Boomerang' in his heyday, is one of thousands of Australians who contracted hepatitis C through donor blood between the 1970s and early 1990s. Others were infected with the HIV virus.

David was told that he was not eligible for compensation for the infection or the resulting health problems. The Australian champion is now calling for action in the blood scandal. The victims are demanding a royal commission of enquiry and an apology and compensation from the federal government.

"I know many who have died from this and I know what happened to me - they need to have a proper review in Australia.

"I am still alive to give my account. Yet so many aren't with us and more are suffering with no monitoring and efforts to give them life-saving transplants."