Spin king Shane Warne, 52, found dead in Thailand
Shane Warne was due to meet friends for a night out, barely a day into a three-month break, when they realised something was terribly wrong.; family in shock.
Cricket legend Shane Warne had barely begun a three-month haitus when tragedy struck in a Thailand villa just one day into his trip abroad with mates.
Warne’s manager James Erskine has revealed Andrew Neophitou, who was travelling with the spin king, had raised the alarm when the 52-year-old — believed to have died from a heart attack — failed to show up for a night out.
“I got a phone call at 10.37 last night from our guy in Melbourne called Andrew Neophitou, who was actually with Shane in Thailand,” Erskine told Fox Cricket.
“Shane had sort of decided he was going to have three months off and in fact he wanted a year off, and I said ‘there’s no way you can have a year off, they would’ve 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.
“They were going to have a drink at 5pm or go and meet someone to go out and have a drink at 5pm, and Neo knocked on his door at 5.15 because Warnie is always on time.
“And he went in there and said ‘come on, you’re going to be late’ and then realised something was wrong.
“And 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 was pronounced dead.”
Warne’s parents have spoken about the sudden death of the beloved spin bowler.
“We’re just in shock,” Warne’s mother Brigitte told the Herald Sun outside the Black Rock, Victoria, home she shares with Warne’s father before adding “We’re OK.”
The MCG’s Southern Stand will be reanmed the SK Warne stand to honour the late spin king, while Warne’s family has been offered a state funeral by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
“To us, he was the greatest – but to his family, he was so much more,” Mr Andrews said.
“Our hearts are breaking for Shane’s family and friends – and they are in the thoughts of all Victorians.”
Victorian Sporting Minister Martin Pakula said the renaming of the stand would happen “as soon as we possibly can”.
The spin legend was found unresponsive by friends in a Koh Samui villa.
Warne was taken to the Thai International Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Chatchawin Nakmusik of the Bo Put police told Reuters that Warne’s body had been transferred to another hospital for autopsy and his friends would be questioned by police on Saturday — but added there were no signs of foul play.
Warne is survived by three children: Jackson, Brooke and Summer.
Neophitou was one of several executive producers behind the recently released feature documentary on Warne’s life called, Shane, which explores his rise as a controversial sporting star and his extravagant and larger than life lifestyle.
The news broke as the Australian team was travelling back from the first day of play in Pakistan.
It is the second tragedy in 24 hours for Australian cricket with Rod Marsh dying in the early hours of Friday morning.
The shock news was confirmed by the Warne family, who released a statement, saying the international cricketer-turned-commentator died of a suspected heart attack.
“It is with great sadness we advise that Shane Keith Warne passed away of a suspected heart attack in Koh Samui, Thailand today, Friday 4th March,” the statement read.
“Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived.
“The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course.”
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer Nick Hockley, in Pakistan for the first Test of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy series, said: “Shane was one of the most talented and charismatic cricketers we have ever witnessed. He loved cricket, had an extraordinarily astute understanding of the game and his influence and legacy will last for as long as it is played.
“Wisden named him as one of the five cricketers of the 20th century and he was rightly placed alongside the names of Bradman, Hobbs, Sobers and Vivian Richards.
“We are in a state of complete shock at his sudden passing and our thoughts are with his family, his many friends and the legion of fans from all over the world who loved and admired Warnie for his unbelievable bowling skills, his humour, warmth and engaging personality.”
Australia men’s captain Pat Cummins said: “On behalf of the entire playing group and support staff here in Pakistan, I want to express our shock and sadness over Shane’s sudden passing. We are all numbed by the news.
“Shane was a once-in-a-century cricketer and his achievements will stand for all time, but apart from the wickets he took and the games he helped Australia win, what he did was draw so many people to the sport.
“So many of us in the playing group grew up idolising him and fell in love with this great sport as a result, while many of our support staff either played with him or against him.
“It has been a terrible couple of days for Australian cricket with the passing of Rod Marsh and now Shane. Our thoughts are with both families and, in Shane’s case, particularly with his parents Keith and Bridgette, his brother Jason and his children Jackson, Summer and Brooke.
“The game of cricket was never the same after Shane emerged, and it will never be the same now he has gone. Rest in peace King.”
Having achieved every accolade the game had to offer as a player, Warne was one of the most recognisable commentators on the game globally, and the star of the Fox Cricket stable.
Warne’s death was immediately reacted to by superstars overseas like Kevin Pietersen and Virender Sehwag.
Australia’s team was just getting back to its hotel in Rawalpindi after day one of the first Test against Pakistan.
Warne’s offsider at Fox Cricket, and long-time Australian teammate Adam Gilchrist, reacted this morning to the news with a series of broken heart emojis.
💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) March 4, 2022
Australian Test opener David Warner said he was struggling to take in the loss of Warne and Rod Marsh on the same day – posting a picture of them together.
“Two legends of our game have left us too soon. I’m lost for words, and this is extremely sad,” said Warner.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to the Marsh and Warne family. I just can not believe it. RIP you both will be missed.”
“Cannot believe it. One of the greatest spinners, the man who made spin cool, superstar Shane Warne is no more,” tweeted Virender Sehwag.
“Life is very fragile, but this is very difficult to fathom. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans all around the world.”
Cannot believe it.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 4, 2022
One of the greatest spinners, the man who made spin cool, superstar Shane Warne is no more.
Life is very fragile, but this is very difficult to fathom. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans all around the world. pic.twitter.com/f7FUzZBaYX
Another cricketing icon, Sir Vivian Richards, paid tribute: “Unbelievable. I am shocked to the core. This can‘t be true ... Rest in Peace, Shane Warne. There are no words to describe what I feel right now. A huge loss for cricket.”
Unbelievable. I am shocked to the core. This can't be true...
— Sir Vivian Richards (@ivivianrichards) March 4, 2022
Rest In Peace, @ShaneWarne. There are no words to describe what I feel right now. A huge loss for cricket. pic.twitter.com/uZdEdNz0x9
The news came hours after Warne expressed his sadness and condolences following the passing of another cricketing icon, Rodney Marsh.
“Sad to hear the news that Rod Marsh has passed,” Warne wrote on Twitter.
“He was a legend of our great game & and inspiration to so many young boys and girls.
“Rod cared deeply about cricket & gave so much - especially to Australia & England players.
“Sending lots & lots of love to Ros & the family. RIP mate.”
Sad to hear the news that Rod Marsh has passed. He was a legend of our great game & an inspiration to so many young boys & girls. Rod cared deeply about cricket & gave so much-especially to Australia & England players. Sending lots & lots of love to Ros & the family. RIP mateâ¤ï¸
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 4, 2022
Less than an hour after Warne’s death was confirmed, England players in the West Indies stood for a minute’s silence before a practice match.
It’s not so long ago another player of Warne’s vintage Dean Jones also died far too early from a heart attack.
The man known worldwide as “Warnie” made his Test debut at the SCG in 1992, quickly winning fans with his prodigious talent and larrikin flair.
Considered by many to be the greatest bowler to ever play the game, Warne was rated one of the top five cricketers of the 20th century in 2000.
He was the first cricketer to reach 700 Test wickets and his tally of 708 was the most ever for an Australian, and second only to Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan. Warne swatted more runs than any other Test player without making a hundred, and was probably the wiliest captain Australia never had.
Born in the outer Melbourne suburb of Upper Ferntree Gully, Warne first got a taste for representative cricket when he was granted a scholarship to Mentone Grammar, representing the University of Melbourne Club in the Victoria Cricket Association U16 Dowling Shield competition.
He then joined the St Kilda Cricket Club, near his home suburb of Black Rock and — after a little stint in AFL at the St Kilda U19s team in 1988, where he made the reserves team and almost turned pro — Warne went to train at the Australia Cricket Academy in Adelaide.
He made his professional debut in 1991 at Junction Oval in the Victoria versus Western Australia match.
That same year, he was selected for the Australian B team and toured Zimbabwe, where he scored his first five-or-more-wickets inning.
In 1993 he was selected for the Ashes England Tour as lead wicket-taker.
He took a Test hat-trick, won the Man-of-the-Match prize in a World Cup final and was the subject of seven books.
His ball that bamboozled England’s Mike Gatting in 1993, bouncing outside leg stump and cuffing off, is unanimously esteemed the most famous in history and recognised as the ball of the century.
Warne revived leg spin when it was thought to be extinct.
Warne life off the pitch was just as lively, and he frequently made headlines for the women he dated — including UK actress Liz Hurley, to whom he was engaged at one point.
When he likened his life to a soap opera Warne was selling himself short. His career was part fairytale, part adults-only romp, part awards ceremony.
Only a week ago Warne tweeted he had started a health kick.
“Operation shred has started (10 days in) & the goal by July is to get back to this shape from a few years ago ! Let’s go’’, he tweeted.
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Operation shred has started (10 days in) & the goal by July is to get back to this shape from a few years ago ! Let’s go 💪ðŸ»ðŸ‘🻠#heathy#fitness#feelgoodfridaypic.twitter.com/EokgT2Hyhz
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) February 28, 2022
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