In shocking news, Shane Warne has died of a suspected heart attack in Thailand aged 52.
According to a statement from the cricket legend’s management as quoted by Fox Sports: “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.”
The cricket legend died in Thailand, aged 52.
(Image: Getty)According to the ABC, Royal Thai Police say Shane was holidaying with four people in a luxury villa on Koh Samui.
His body has been sent to Koh Samui Hospital, where an autopsy will be carried out and Shane’s friends are expected to speak to police on the island today.
Celebrity tributes have rolled in for the cricket legend, from cricketing greats to homegrown celebrities.
Fitness queen Michelle Bridges wrote on Instagram: “This can not be. I can’t even. Such an incredible athlete, a legend. Shane, you were always so warm, so welcoming and so darn funny. Always up for a chat and a laugh. You inspired a nation and an army of next gen spinners. You put the cool into spin. Heartfelt wishes to your family. RIP ❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼”
Meanwhile radio and TV host Amanda Keller reflected: “Cannot believe the news that Shane Warne has gone. A cricket legend, of course, but also a charismatic larrikin who was such a part of the Australian landscape. What a hole he will leave in our hearts. My condolences to his family and friends at this tragic time.”
Magda Szubanski, whose Kath and Kim character Sharon Strezlecki married a Shane Warne impersonator played by Warney himself shared her own heartfelt message.
“Woke in the middle of the night to the terrible terrible news that Shane Warne had died. I’m in utter shock. Inconceivable that a life crammed with so much genius and larrikin charm could be snuffed out so suddenly and so soon,” she penned.
“When we filmed these immortal scenes Warnie proved that he was not just a great sportsman but also a great sport. He played along with our shenanigans and we had loads of fun. He was a great pasher!
“In between takes we chatted and I totally fell under the spell of the famed Warnie charm: he was thoughtful and very sweet. He grew up not far from me and so much of him was typical, Melbourne outer suburban boy. Except, of course, that he was blessed by the gods of cricket. My god. So blessed. But also dedicated and hard working. He taught me – or rather Sharon – how to do the flipper and recounted how he would practice that spin hundreds of times a day until he could propel a cricket ball one metre straight up into the air just by clicking his fingers. His fingers were like small tree trunks.
“But mostly I remember how he spoke with such great love and pride of his beautiful kids. This is a shocking loss for our nation and for the cricketing world. And poor Sharon has lost her hero and the love of her life.
“But right now my heart is with his family and his friends – and most especially with his beautiful children Jackson Summer and Brooke whom he loved so very very much. RIP Warnie 💔 sending love to you and Rod Marsh up there in cricket heaven.”
Shane was the first bowler in history to take 700 wickets and has taken the most test wickets of any Australian player ever.
The sporting great, who made his test debut for Australia in 1992 and retired from the game in 2007, was also one of two Australians named in the Five Cricketers of the Century along with Sir Donald Bradman.
Following his retirement, Shane regularly commentated for Nine and Fox Sports.
“We don’t see him as a legend. All the names people call him, we just see him like our dad and that’s it.”
(Image: Instagram)Shane is survived by his children; daughters Brooke, 24, and Summer, 20, and son Jackson, 22 whom he shares with ex-wife Simone Callahan.
“I think I speak for Brooke, Summer and myself, we don’t see him as anyone else other than just our dad,” Jackson previously told the Sun Herald.
“We don’t see him as a legend. All the names people call him, we just see him like our dad and that’s it. We don’t feel privileged. He does what every dad loves to do.”
