Damien Martyn has declared he is back after overcoming a meningitis scare, which he said took his life out of his hands.
In a heartfelt post on his social media accounts, the former Australia batter said he was given a 50% chance to live after battling the disease, which causes an infection and swelling of fluid and membranes around the brain and spinal cord. The 54-year-old was put into an induced coma on 27 December and was fighting for his life in a Gold Coast intensive care unit until he woke eight days later.
Martyn revealed he had been unable to walk or talk after coming out of the coma, but, “with the doctors in disbelief”, spoke and moved just four days later.
“My life was taken out of my hands…when meningitis took over my brain, and unbeknownst to me I was placed into a paralysed coma for eight days to help me fight this awful disease,” he said.
Allow Facebook content?
This article includes content provided by Facebook. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.
“After being given a 50/50 chance of surviving, I came out of the induced coma 8 days later…not able to walk or talk.
“This experience has reminded me of how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change + how precious time is! Bring on 2026 …I’m back!”
He also thanked those who helped him during his hospital stay. “A BIG thank you to ALL my family, friends and so many other people who have reached out to me,” Martyn said.
“There are so many wonderful people in this world … from paramedics (at Mermaid Waters Ambulance), doctors + nurses (at Gold Coast University Hospital) … to family, friends and people I didn’t even know.
“I feel like I met all these fantastic people in the past three weeks, or they reached out to me through messages of love and support.”
Darwin-born Martyn earned a Test debut at 21, replacing Dean Jones in the 1992-93 home series against West Indies, and was Western Australia’s captain at 23.
His high score in Tests of 165 came against New Zealand in 2005, one of 13 centuries Martyn made in the baggy green. He averaged 46.37.
He also played 208 one-day internationals, averaging 40.8 and scoring an unbeaten 88 as Australia defeated India in the final of the 2003 World Cup.
#Damien #Martyn #declares #leaving #hospital #meningitis #Australia #cricket #team