new Delhi: The ‘King of Spin’ Shane Warne has returned to Melbourne, Australia, six days after his sudden tragic death due to a heart attack. Warne’s body was brought to Melbourne from Thailand in a private jet. According to several Australian media reports, the late Australian veteran arrived at Melbourne’s Essendon North Airport. His coffin was draped in the Australian national flag.
The 52-year-old late leg-spinner died of a heart attack on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand. Earlier this week an autopsy report confirmed that Warne had died of natural causes after suffering a heart attack.
Warne, who was the World Cup champion in 1999, was considered one of the top spinners of the game. The cricket fraternity condoled the loss of a great icon of the sport.
Hangar door being closed before his body was taken off the plane pic.twitter.com/28q9shT90O
— Cassie Morgan (@cassieemorgan) 10 March 2022
In a fitting farewell to the former Australian cricketer, his last rites will be performed with state honors at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on the evening of March 30, the Victorian state government was quoted as saying by AFP on Wednesday. About one lakh people are expected to gather for the state funeral.
It was at the prestigious MCG in 1994 when Shane Warne took a hat-trick in the Boxing Day Test against England. The MCG is also the stadium where the legend took his 700th Test wicket. According to several media reports, a public condolence meeting will be held after Warne’s state funeral.