Cross on losing grandfather to Coronavirus: "It's been a heartbreaking few weeks for all the family"

The current World Matchplay champion has now launched a British Heart Foundation fundraiser in memory with this grandfather having underlying health issues and for Cross, it has been a tough period since the pandemic began.

“It’s been a heartbreaking few weeks for all the family. My grandad had heart problems and pneumonia but coronavirus was the last straw for him," said Cross to The Sun.

“It’s been really hard to deal with. There have been so many other factors to worry about. My wife Georgia is pregnant with our fourth child and that puts her in the vulnerable category.

Then we had to think about my nan, who was left on her own. It’s taken an awful lot of thought to work out what to do and when, and hope no one else gets the virus."

“My nan has moved in with us now so we can look after her. But you can imagine that it’s been so difficult with all the emotion. In the space of a few weeks our entire lives have changed dramatically," the former World Champion added.

“The saddest thing of all is that this is happening to thousands of families up and down the country and across the world.

It’s been harrowing at times. As parents, we have to stay strong for our kids but there’s so much bad news now, it’s hard to take in how different our lives have become.”

The PDC Home Tour is ongoing and despite what has been going on in the life of the World No.4, Cross admitted that he will play in the tournament and that it will give him something to strive for.

He added: “The PDC have been brilliant. They totally accept my family comes first. But I will play in this Home Tour at some stage.

It’s actually helped me focus on practising again and keeping my mind busy getting organised to play in a tournament.”