Australia and the world alike have been rocked by the news of Shane Warne’s sudden and untimely death. The cricketing legend died aged 52 on March 4, 2022.
WATCH: Shane – Official Trailer
Shane passed away from a suspected heart attack, while on a trip in Thailand with some friends. He was staying at the Samujan resort on the island of Koh Samui.
“Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived,” a statement from his management revealed.
“The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course.”
Following an autopsy, it was confirmed that Shane died of natural causes.
The Royal Thai Police have confirmed that Shane was holidaying with four others in Koh Samui. His body has been sent to hospital for an autopsy and will then be returned home to Australia.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne confirmed that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade were working with Thai authorities to assist with repatriation.
Shane is survived by his three children, Jackson, 22, Summer, 20, and Brooke, 24.
Tributes flow for Shane Warne
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has offered a state funeral to take place in his honour, saying: “Victoria has lost an icon. Australia has lost a legend.”
Shane was best known for his illustrious cricket career but was also beloved by Australians for his larrikin personality.
Tributes from family, friends, fans and fellow celebrities have been flowing, with news coming as a very sad shock.
Australian stars such as Dannii Minogue, Jimmy Barnes, and Hugh Jackman have all shared written tributes to Shane, while international names like Boris Johnson, Mick Jagger, and Ed Sheeran have also shared their condolences online. His ex-fiancée Elizabeth Hurley has also been among those to share their grief.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also shared a heartfelt tribute to Twitter.
“Australians have woken in shock and sadness to the awful news of the death of Shane Warne, aged just 52,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison wrote on Twitter.
“Shane was one of our greatest cricketers of all time, one of only a few that could approach the extraordinary achievements of the great Don Bradman,” he continued.
“Australians loved him. We all did. We are all bewildered today by this sad and sudden losss.
“There was no one like Shane. He lived his life his way. He had his great achievements, but also his regrets. He carried them all the same way. With a cheeky smile and a zest for life.”
Celebrating his final moments
As friends and fans alike share their love for the cricketing legend, some of his final moments have been shared with the public.
Tom Hall, one of Shane’s closest friends who was with him in Thailand, has revealed the final meal eaten by his mate – saying the star enjoyed Vegemite on toast after having been on a health cleanse in the days prior.
“I have dined with Shane in many fine establishments, but rather than sample some of the local Thai fare, we tuck into a plate of Vegemite on toast. Shane chomping away: ‘Geez, you can’t beat Vegemite with some butter, always great wherever you are in the world.’
“An Australian through and through — this was to turn out to be his last meal. Ever the caring father, as I was leaving, he headed up to his bedroom to call his kids.”
Entertainment Reporter Peter Ford, who says he exchanged “thousands” of messages with Warnie over the years, has shared his final conversation with the star.
“Friday afternoon I got one. He contacted me, he’d read a tweet that I’d done about my dog dying and he contacted me and said, ‘How are you going?'” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Monday morning.
“That’s why it became all the more impossible to believe when I got that news in the middle of the night/early hours of Saturday morning.”
The radio host replied: “He had so much heart. That’s what’s coming out of all the comments that have been made by people that he knew. He was always looking out for others.”
Ford continued on to say Warnie had “such pride” in his kids.
“In fact one of those messages said, ‘This is the greatest thing I’ve ever got right in my life, is those three kids’.
“I’ve got no doubt getting to know him in this rather peculiar way, he was a very decent bloke who could be a silly, a ratbag, a larrikin, all those things we’ve been using. But I don’t doubt that he was an absolutely decent bloke.”
This article originally appeared on our sister site, WHO.
For more on the life and legacy of Shane Warne, read the articles below
Shane Warne’s State Funeral: What we know so far
Celebrity tributes flow in for ‘Spin King’ Shane Warne following his sudden death
Despite his legendary cricket career, Shane Warne’s greatest achievements was his kids
Shane Warne’s family share heartbreaking statements following his death
Inside Jackson Warne’s close relationship with his father Shane
From Simone Callahan to Liz Hurley: Shane Warne’s love life was complicated but rewarding
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