Shane Warne’s four friends battled for 20 minutes to save his life after he suffered a suspected heart attack at a villa in Thailand.
The Australian cricket star, 52, had been on holiday on the island of Koh Samui when he was found unresponsive on Friday afternoon.
Police Senior Sergeant Major Suporn Hemruangsree said the group were asleep when one of Warne’s friends attempted to wake him but could not do so.
Warne’s friends performed CPR for around 20 minutes before emergency services arrived at the scene and took him to the Thai International Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
On Saturday, Warne’s manager James Erskine explained that the group had been going out to get a drink at around 5pm.
“[They] knocked on his door at 5.15pm because Warnie was always on time and said: ‘C’mon you’re going to be late,’ and then realised something was wrong,” he said.
Local media reported that the Wat Plai Leam rescue team was called around 5.30pm and discovered Warne unconscious at the property.
Rescue team chief Phet Boonrak said: “His friends were so shocked. They said they had found him unconscious on the bed and moved him to the floor to attempt CPR.
“In the room, there was vomit on the floor but no sign of injuries. The ambulance arrived within 15 minutes, they took him to the hospital immediately.”
In a tragic final Instagram post just hours before his death, the leg-spin bowler had shared a picture his Thai villa captioned: “Good night from Koh Samui”.
Warner’s management confirmed his death in a statement on Friday, writing: “Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived.
“The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course.”
Warne left an indelible mark on cricket, having taken 708 wickets in 145 Tests between 1992 and 2007. He was particularly influential against England with 195 wickets – the most by any bowler in the Ashes.
Tributes flooded in from the cricket world after news of Warne’s death was announced on Friday.
Australia Test captain Pat Cummins said: “Warnie was an all-time great, a once-in-a-century type of cricketer and his record will live on forever.”
Ashes 2005 winning captain Michael Vaughan said on Instagram: “It just doesn’t feel real to be talking about someone who once was an enemy on the pitch to one who became a great friend off it.
“I am absolutely gutted to have a lost a great friend... one thing is for sure Heaven will be a lively place now the King has arrived.”
