Australian spin legend Shane Warne dies of heart attack at 52:
V/D/C NEWS:
Australia cricket legend and the greatest leg-spinner of all-time, Shane Warne, has died, aged 52.
The 708-Test wicket great was found unresponsive by friends in a villa he was staying at in Koh Samui, Thailand.
Warne’s management released a brief statement in the early hours of Saturday (AEDT) saying that he passed away of a suspected heart attack.
Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived,” the statement reads.
“The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course.”
According to the Herald Sun, attempts by Warne’s close friend and associate Andrew Neophitou to revive him were unsuccessful.
Neophitou was an executive producer behind the recently released documentary SHANE.
Staff at the Thai International Hospital told AFP in Bangkok that Warne’s body was taken to their facility around 6:00 pm local time (1100 GMT) from Samujana Villas, a luxury resort in the northeast of Koh.
It came just days after Warne had declared he was aiming to return to peak fitness again.
“Operation shred has started (10 days in) and the goal by July is to get back to this shape from a few years ago! Let’s go,” he captioned a topless photograph of himself.
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne confirmed Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials had been in touch Warne’s travelling companions, and would travel to Koh Sumai to “provide further assistance”.
Warne has been taken to a local hospital for an autopsy, and will then be repatriated ahead of an expected state funeral.
“DFAT is working with Thai authorities to confirm arrangements following his passing, assist with his repatriation, and provide other assistance on the ground,” Senator Payne said.
The Great Southern Stand at the MCG will be renamed the S.K. Warne Stand, the Victorian government has confirmed on Saturday while Warne’s family will be offered a state funeral, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison describing him as one of the nation’s greatest cricketers .
