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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Barney Davis

Shane Warne’s body lands back home in Australia for state funeral

Shane Warne’s body has landed back home in Australia after departing Thailand on a private jet on Thursday.

The cricket legend’s casket was draped in the Australian flag for the nine-hour journey.

Warne, who died of a heart attack on the island of Koh Samui last Friday, will be honoured with a state funeral at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 30.

An autopsy earlier this week confirmed the cricketer had died of natural causes while he was holidaying with friends.

“Today investigators received the autopsy result, in which the medical opinion is that the cause of death is natural,” Kissana Phathanacharoen, deputy national police spokesperson, said in a statement.

“Investigators will summarise the autopsy result for prosecutors within the timeframe of the law.”

The statement did not confirm exactly how Warne had died, but police have said that he complained of chest pains before his death.

Warne’s manager, James Erskine, revealed he had been on an extreme liquid diet in the fortnight before he died.

Tributes to the late Australian cricket player Shane Warne are seen outside Samujana Villas on Thailand's Koh Samui (AFP via Getty Images)

The Warne family have accepted Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews’ offer of a state funeral. They will also hold a smaller, private event.

Fans have continued to lay floral tributes at a statue of Warne at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The stadium’s Great Southern Stand will be renamed the SK Warne Stand in the spin king’s honour.

Shane Warne of Australia claims the wicket of Robert Key of England (Getty Images)

Warne shot to global fame with the ‘ball of the century’ to bamboozle and dismiss Mike Gatting in the 1993 Ashes series against England.

He went on to claim 708 Test wickets, the second-highest haul in history, in a 15-year career spanning 145 matches.

The bullish spinner also racked up 293 one-day international wickets, helping Australia win the 1999 World Cup.

Mr Andrews said on social media that the state funeral would be an opportunity for the country to honour the sporting superstar.

“It will be an opportunity for Victorians to pay tribute to his contribution to his sport, to our state and the country,” he said.

“Details will be finalised in the coming days.”

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