Paramedics reveal how they attempted to revive Shane Warne
Paramedics have revealed how they battled to revive Shane Warne in the desperate final moments of his life.
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Paramedics have revealed how they battled in vain to revive cricket legend Shane Warne as his friends shouted: “Come on, Shane.”.
His friends also gave CPR after finding tragic Shane, 52, unresponsive in his Thai villa.
A TV was showing the Australia-Pakistan Test match as pals tried desperately to resuscitate him after a suspected heart attack.
Warne had suffered chest pains before leaving his homeland for the Thai island of Koh Samui for a week’s holiday with friends.
His manager also revealed the star had just started a three-month break from his hectic schedule.
“Shane’s friends were already trying to bring him back to life,” paramedic Anuch Han-iam said.
“I took over doing CPR while we waited for an ambulance.
“They were desperate. I think one was crying. They were really stressed and panicked.
“They kept trying to wake him and I heard someone saying, ‘Come on, Shane. Come on, Shane’.
“I could see they were all shocked and I just tried to concentrate and do my best.
“There were about four or five other people in the room. All men, there were no women.
“The villa was clean and I didn’t see any beer or cigarettes inside.
“There was nothing unusual that made me think they’d been partying. I didn’t know when I arrived that it was Shane Warne. But I know who he is, he’s a star.
“I did my best for him and gave all my energy. I’m so sorry that I couldn’t help him.”
Thai cops yesterday released pictures of the room — as forensics teams continued their work at the £2000-a-night villa.
Warne had earlier visited a tailor to have a suit cut, said Police chief Yuttana Sirisombat.
He added: “He called the girl to massage. It was just massage.
“He didn’t die because of the massage. He wasn’t well.”
Colonel Sirisombat said Warne’s family had told police the star was suffering health problems before jetting off.
He explained: “He had asthma and had seen a doctor about his heart. We learned from his family that he had experienced chest pains when he was back home.”
Police confirmed no alcohol or drugs were found in the room.
Officers on Saturday interviewed Warne’s friends for two hours.
They are treating the death as non-suspicious and have ruled out foul play.
There were no signs of a break-in or violent argument in the villa room. Warne’s body is due to be transferred to Surat Thani on the Thai mainland.
Authorities said it would have to test negative for Covid before the autopsy which is due today.
Colonel Sirisombat said investigators were examining whether blood stains in the room were caused by attempts to revive him, or another medical issue.
He went on: “So far, no suspicious issue found from the investigations.
“However, the blood stain was seen on the floor which the friends told police was the consequence of CPR practices.
“Therefore, the investigators have to scrutinise it clearly before concluding the case and all assumptions still remain.”
Warne, regarded as Test cricket’s greatest bowler with 708 wickets, had flown to Thailand on Thursday with friends including Andrew Neophitou, Gareth Edwards and John Dopere. Mr Neophitou, executive producer on the recently-released Amazon Prime film Shane about the star, had found Warne unresponsive late on Friday afternoon.
Warne’s pal and long-time manager James Erskine told Fox Sports in Australia: “Neo knocked on his door because Warnie is always on time.
“He said, ‘Come on you’re going to be late’ and then realised something was wrong.
“He turned him over and gave him CPR and mouth to mouth, which lasted about 20 minutes and then the ambulance came.
“They took him to the hospital, which was about a 20-minute drive and I got a phone call about 45 minutes later saying he had been pronounced dead.”
Mr Neophitou, thought to have been staying in the next-door room, said yesterday: “We just really want to get Shane home.”
Mr Erskine said that Warne had asked for time off before working as a commentator in England this summer. He was also due to coach London Spirit his team in The Hundred competition. Mr Erskine said: “Shane had sort of decided he was going to have three months off.
“He wanted a year off, and I said ‘There’s no way you can (do that) they would have forgotten you by a year’. So he decided to have three months off.
“And this was just the start of it, and they’d only arrived the day or night before.”
Womaniser Warne, often pictured with a drink and cigar, was known for partying hard off the pitch. But Mr Erskine insisted: “He didn’t drink much. Everyone thinks he’s a big boozer but he’s not.
“I sent him a crate of wine — ten years later it’s still there.
“He doesn’t drink, never took drugs, ever. He hated drugs so nothing untoward.
“He was going to do the things he likes doing — play in poker competitions, play a lot of golf, be with his kids, that was about it — have time to himself.”
Warne was pronounced dead at the Thai International Hospital.
His body was then moved to the Koh Samui Hospital, where it was yesterday in a mortuary.
Hospital director Dr Dulyakij Wittayajanyapong said: “The doctor informed me that the patient died before reaching the hospital but we continued with the use of a ventilator and CPR for another 45 minutes.”
He added: “The patient had no pulse or vital signs when found at the scene.
“I cannot say what caused the death but if the relatives have any questions they must have an autopsy performed.” Police said Warne and his pals had been booked into the villa until next Thursday, March 10.
In his last Instagram post, on Monday, Warne had revealed he was on a fitness kick — and posted a topless snap of himself from his playing days.
He said: “Operation Shred has started (10 days in) and the goal by July is to get back to this shape from a few years ago.”
Doctor Philippa Kaye said the traces of blood in Warne’s room could have stemmed from him having high blood pressure. Dr Kaye, currently appearing on ITV’s This Morning, added: “High blood pressure can cause nose bleeds.
“It is possible he might have had a sudden rise in blood pressure which can cause a heart attack.
“I’m not aware of heart attacks themselves causing a nose bleed.
“A big nose bleed will go down the back of the nose and into the mouth.”
She said injuries can be caused during the CPR process, such as broken ribs, but that would unlikely cause a nose bleed.
6PM: MCG leading contender for Warne funeral
The MCG has emerged as a leading contender to host the funeral of Shane Warne, after the cricket legend’s family accepted the Victorian Government’s offer of a state funeral, writes Ben Horne.
For a funeral which could be attended by high profile sporting and entertainment celebrities from around the globe, it would be most fitting for the farewell to The King to be held at the coliseum where Warne achieved some of his most special moments.
News Corp understands the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the Shane Warne statue out the front and the soon to be named S.K Warne Stand, is one of the venues under consideration to host the landmark event which will remember the life of an Australian icon.
Cricket Victoria chief executive Nick Cummins said his organisation would support any push to host the funeral at the MCG, provided it was in line with the Warne family’s wishes.
“We think it would be an appropriate stage for the funeral of a sporting legend who adored the MCG and inspired so many with his deeds at our famous ground,” Cummins told News Corp.
“If that’s what the family wanted, we certainly feel it would be a fitting place.”
Premier Daniel Andrews earlier announced he had spoken with Warne’s family and they have accepted an offer for the state funeral.
“I’ve spoken with the Warne family again today and they have accepted my offer of a State Funeral to remember Shane,” Mr Andrews said on Twitter.
“It will be an opportunity for Victorians to pay tribute to his contribution to his sport, to our state and the country.”
The Premier said details about the service will be finalised in the coming days.
News of a state funeral came hours after Warne’s body was transferred to a hospital for an autopsy.
The cricket legend’s remains were moved on a stretcher from a mortuary in Koh Samui and driven by car to Seatran ferry pier to get off the island.
His body, covered in a pink blanket and on an ambulance stretcher, was respectfully taken from the mortuary at the holiday island’s hospital shortly after midday EDT.
There was a delay in getting some paperwork organised but that was resolved mid-morning.
Warne was to be taken to Suratthani Hospital on the Thai mainland, about 125km or three hours away from Koh Samui.
Royal Thai police said on Saturday night that Warne’s family had told them he had complained of chest pains before leaving for the island paradise this week.
There had been suggestions that any autopsy would be done in Australia, but police confirmed they had permission to perform the procedure in Thailand.
The family had not disputed the initial reports that Warne, 52, had died of a heart attack.
4pm: ‘Whole world will be on it’: Warne horse to race in his memory
Jockey Ryan Maloney will wear a black armband on Wednesday when a horse which was part-owned by cricket legend Shane Warne carries a sentimental weight of punters’ money, writes Ben Dorries.
“I can’t believe Shane is no longer with us – the entire world is going to be on Sacred Oath at Ipswich on Wednesday,” part-owner Jarred Magnabosco, from Best Bloodstock, said.
Trainer David Vandyke has confirmed the three-year-old colt, who created national headlines before his debut last month when News Corp revealed SK Warne was in the ownership, would take his place in a 1500m Maiden Plate at Ipswich on Wednesday.
Glenn Munsie from the TAB said he expected Sacred Oath to be well backed given the Warne connection.
Munsie said that after cricket great Rod Marsh passed away last week, tote punters gravitated towards a horse called Marsh Lillie, which was much shorter on the tote than its $71 starting price in a race at Newcastle.
“Sentimental punters will want to be all over Sacred Oath on Wednesday when they realise it was Shane Warne’s horse, they will want to back it in memory of the great man,” Munsie said.
Group 1 winning jockey Maloney said it was only fitting he wear a black armband as a sign of respect.
“Warney was one of my heroes growing up – him and Allan Border,” Maloney said.
“I just loved watching Warney, he was just so flamboyant.”
A big betting drifter on debut from $2.15 favourite to $2.80 second pick at Doomben on February 16, Sacred Oath loomed up as the winner in the straight before finishing second behind a race-fit Tony Gollan-trainer galloper in a 1350m Handicap.
It was a game of poker that had sowed the seeds for Warne to join the ownership of Sacred Oath with his mate and former Hawthorn AFL premiership great Campbell Brown.
Brown is considering flying from Victoria to Queensland to be trackside at Ipswich when Sacred Oath races on Wednesday.
There are other big names in the ownership of Sacred Oath – Shane Jacobson (aka Kenny the dunny man) and prominent media man Hamish McLachlan are also part-owners.
AFL types in the horse include Sydney's Jake Lloyd, Port Adelaide’s Trent McKenzie and a syndicate of Fremantle players, including Joel Hamling, Luke Ryan, Brennan Cox, Darcy Tucker, Blake Acres, Brandon Matera and Michael Walters.
Sacred Oath is a son of Group 1 winner Sacred Falls and Vandyke has even thrown in a nomination for next month’s Group 1 Australian Derby at Randwick.
5pm: Grand send off planned for Aussie legend
2.30pm: Fond memories of a ‘Brighton icon’
Warnie’s previous neighbours have remembered him as a “friendly guy” who would always stop and say hello.
Former neighbours Suzanne Rumble and son Ben Ronec, said the cricket star was “a great neighbour to have.”
“I used to always see him sitting in his garage with the door open playing poker,” said Ms Rumble.
“The amount of banter and camaraderie in that garage was amazing - and all ages, young and old. With his son, Jackson.”
Ms Rumble, labelling Shane a “Brighton icon,” recalled hearing a few parties over the years, and said the Warne household was always “full of fun.”
“I thought it was fabulous,” she added.
Mr Ronec, who was a few years older than Jackson at Brighton Grammar School, remembered Shane always being involved in his kids’ lives.
He said he and his mum regularly bumped into him at local sports games.
“He would always give us the time of day. He would always want to know what was going on,” said Ms Rumble.
“He was always smiling, always happy,” she added.
Jim, who lived a few houses down at another of Warnie’s Brighton homes, said Shane was “always friendly, always kind.”
He smiled as he remembered Shane’s attempts at three point turns being more like 7-point turns.
“He always waved, always took the time to say hello to his neighbours,” he said.
“We’re all very sad about his passing,” said another neighbour.
Brighton MP James Newbury, whose office is a few doors down from one of the former properties, also paid tribute to Shane on Saturday - remembering him as a family man and a cricket legend.
“He and his children are loved, especially by our sports clubs - He never said no to helping kids learn sport,” he said.
“Rest in peace legend.”
2pm: Warne’s body moved for autopsy
Shane Warne’s body is being transferred to a hospital for an autopsy.
The cricket legend’s remains were moved on a stretcher from a mortuary in Koh Samui and driven by car to Seatran ferry pier to get off the island.
His body, covered in a pink blanket and on an ambulance stretcher, was respectfully taken from the mortuary at the holiday island’s hospital shortly after midday AEDT.
Warne was to be taken to Suratthani Hospital on the Thai mainland, about 125km or three hours away from Koh Samui.
Royal Thai police said on Saturday night that Warne’s family had told them he had complained of chest pains before leaving for the island paradise this week.
There had been suggestions that any autopsy would be done in Australia, but police confirmed they had permission to perform the procedure in Thailand.
11:30am Warne loss ‘massive hit’ for sporting community
Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman might be a silver fox now but, in his younger years, his hair took its cues from iconic cricket great Shane Warne.
United paid tribute to the legendary leg spinner Saturday night at John Cain Arena with a moment of silence before their win over Brisbane Bullets.
Speaking after the game, Vickerman said the loss of both Warne and wicketkeeping master Rod Marsh was a “massive hit” for the sporting community.
“I want to acknowledge the loss of Shane Warne, as a Victorian, as a person who absolutely adored what he did on the field and played with a passion and changed the game,” Vickerman said.
“There were a few blond tips in my hair back in the day because of Shane Warne.
“Shout out to the cricket community and to his family.”
Vickerman’s tribute was part of an outpouring of sadness and emotion from the sporting world after Warne suffered a heart attack while on holiday in Koh Samui, Thailand.
8am: ‘Bad dream’: Warnie’s kids in ‘complete shock’
Shane Warne’s children are in ‘complete shock’ at the Australian cricket great’s passing, describing the sudden death as a ‘bad dream’.
Warne’s long-time manager James Erskine, on Saturday, spoke to Warne’s three kids, Jackson, Brooke and Summer, as well as ex-wife Simone Callahan, and tragically described their emotional state.
“I think the three children are in complete shock,” Erskine said on Channel 9’s Today show.
“I spoke to them yesterday and … Jackson just said, ‘We expect him to walk in the door. This is like a bad dream’.”
Erskine said Callahan and Warne’s father Keith were naturally “shattered” at the shock death at just 52 from a heart attack.
“Like everybody, (Keith Warne is) just shattered. They can’t believe what’s happened,” Erskine added.
“I think that’s what happens when you have a sudden death and you’re not expecting.
“One minute the kids are talking to him every day, the next minute they can’t talk to him and they start thinking about he’s not going to be there for my 21st, he’s not going to take me down the aisle.
“Those things go through your head. They are having a much harder time than anybody really.”
Warne suffered the heart attack while on holiday in Koh Samui, where he had planned to get back into shape after a long summer covering the Ashes.
Erskine revealed Warne had a habit of attempting ‘ridiculous’ extreme diets, in a bid to drop weight.
“He did go on these ridiculous sort of diets, and he was just finished one, where he basically only ate fluids for 14 days and he’d done this three or four times,” Erskine said.
“It was a bit all or nothing. It was either white buns with butter and lasagne stuffed in the middle, or he would be having black and green juices.
“He obviously smoked most of his life (but) I don’t know, I think it was just a massive heart attack. That’s what I think’s happened.”
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