Monday, March 7, 2022
Australian cricket player Shane Warne died of a suspected heart attack Friday aged 52 in a villa on the island of Ko Samui, Thailand.
His passing came hours after the death of fellow Australian cricket player Rod Marsh, who Warne paid a tribute to on Twitter before dying himself.
In a statement to Fox Sports, Warne’s management said “Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived.”
Many former and current cricket players in Australia and around the world paid tributes to Warne, including Adam Gilchrist, India players Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, Pakistan player Muhammad Rizwan and more.
Warne’s former fiancée Elizabeth Hurley paid tribute, saying “I feel like the sun has gone behind a cloud forever. RIP my beloved lionheart”.
Many people ornamented the statue of Warne outside Melbourne Cricket Ground with items associated with Warne: flowers, beer cans and stubbies, baked beans, meat pies, and cigarettes. The MCG announced that the stadium’s Great Southern Stand would be renamed the S.K. Warne Stand in honour of Warne.
Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews offered Warne’s family a state funeral for the cricketer, which the family accepted. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the federal government would support the state funeral and gave condolences to Warne’s family.
Wikinews understands the date and location of the funeral has not yet been announced.