‘Scared and worried’: CQ darts star’s COVID-19 diagnosis

Coronavirus confines international sportsman to a donga at his in-laws Central Queensland property

Kyle Anderson was tested for coronavirus and got word of his positive result on March 29.

INTERNATIONAL darts star Kyle Anderson felt "upset, scared and worried" when he was diagnosed with coronavirus.

"I didn't know what to expect - and I still don't know," he said of the positive result that has seen him confined to a donga at his in-laws' property at Mt Morgan for more than three weeks.

Kyle, 32, said he has had no symptoms for the past two weeks but subsequent tests show he still has the virus.

He is hoping the most recent one, done on Monday this week, will come back negative.

He needs two negative results to be able to come out of self-isolation.

Kyle was in Chesterfield, England, preparing for the upcoming Professional Darts Corporation season when he made the decision to return to Australia.

"I was at a pub practising with my mate from Perth, who is also on the tour," he said.

"We were watching the news and hearing coronavirus this and that.

"He said, 'I'm going home. You coming?' and that was it."

Kyle flew to Brisbane via Perth and arrived in Rockhampton on March 21.

Within a couple of days, he developed some symptoms.

"I got a cough, which I thought was a normal air-con related cough, and a blocked nose which I thought would go in a couple of days," he said.

 

Kyle Anderson in action at the 2018 Brisbane Darts Masters at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Saturday, August 18, 2018 (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

When they had not gone, Kyle and wife Tara and son Charles all had tests on March 26.

The results came back three days later - Kyle was positive, Tara and Charles were both negative.

"I didn't think I would get it. I'd heard a lot about it but did I think I would get it, no," Kyle said.

"When I got the result, I sorted my clothes and rang my parents to inform them."

He moved into the donga, while Tara and Charles stayed at the family home in Gracemere.

"It's hard knowing they are just down the road but lawfully it's off limits for me to see them," he said.

"We've been texting regularly and doing FaceTime.

"I've been watching YouTube, Stan and Netflix. That is pretty much it, as well as sitting in the sun doing absolutely nothing."

"My dartboard isn't here, it's in Gracemere so I've had no darts at all and I'm really missing it."

Kyle said he was feeling good physically but the isolation was presenting a challenge.

"It's hard not having contact with anybody. I've been alone before but this is a different alone.

"I can't wait to get back to the house and spend some real time with the family (in Gracemere).

The PCD has launched a Home Tour, a tournament which is broadcast live from the homes of its star players.

Kyle hopes he can return to competition through that format but for now he has just one thing on his mind.

"When I'm home it's family time, it always has been," he said.

"That's where my thoughts are. This has put into perspective how quickly things can change."