Cricketer Shane Warne’s body arrived at the Bangkok airport on Thursday to be taken back to Australia where the cricket superstar’s state funeral is to be performed.
A coffin wrapped in an Australian flag and the 52-year-old, who died on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand on Friday, arrived at Don Mueang airport.
Autopsy results confirmed that the leg-spin bowler – one of the greatest Test cricketers of all time – died of natural causes after suffering a suspected heart attack.
A statement from the Government of Victoria announcing the funeral at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 30 said that Warne “didn’t just inspire a cricketing generation – he defined it.”
Warne was discovered late Friday at a luxury villa in Koh Samui where he was on vacation after failing to meet friends that evening.
Shane Warne’s state funeral to be held on March 30 at MCG
He was taken to the Thai International Hospital Samui but could not be revived despite medical efforts.
On Monday, police said an autopsy had found that “death was of natural causes”.
Surchate Haqparn, assistant to the national police chief, said Warne’s father said the player was “suffering from chest pain and was planning to return home for a check-up after the visit”.
In their first public remarks since his death on Friday, Warne’s parents, brother, children and ex-wife expressed their deep sorrow while paying tribute to one of the greatest Test cricketers of all time and the man they love. Used to do
Parents Keith and Brigitte Warne said in a statement: “Finding words to adequately express our grief is an impossible task for us and unthinkable to look forward to without Shane.”
Daughter Summer Warne said, “I miss you so much already. I wish I hadn’t known about my last moments with you, so I could hug you tighter.”
“I wish I could tell you that everything will be all right and take your hand.”
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to one of the country’s “greatest characters”.
Over the weekend fans paid tribute to Warne at his statue outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground – including offerings of cigarettes, beer and meat pie – to remember an extraordinary cricket genius with a huge appetite for life.
Credited with reviving the art of leg-spin, Warne was part of a prominent Australian Test team in the 1990s and 2000s and helped his country win the 1999 limited-overs World Cup.
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© Agence France-Presse
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