Aussie cricket legend Damien Martyn posts constructive well being replace – a month after being admitted to hospital with life-threatening sickness
Damien Martyn says he is ‘on the mend’ a month after the Australian cricket great was admitted to a Gold Coast hospital fighting for his life.
The former Test batsman, 54, fell ill on Boxing Day and was rushed to hospital. He was later diagnosed with meningitis and was put into an induced coma.
The life-threatening illness causes an infection and swelling of the protective membranes that surround the brain.
Martyn revealed that he was given a 50 per cent chance to live, but responded ‘exceptionally well’ to treatment.
He would wake eight days later and was initially unable to walk or talk. But Martyn left doctors stunned after he began to speak just four days later.
He has since delivered a hugely positive update on his health, publishing a photograph of himself walking on the beach, while revealing that he had also been for a swim.
Damien Martyn says he is ‘on the mend’ a month after the Australian cricket great was admitted to a Gold Coast hospital fighting for his life
The former Test batsman, 54, fell ill on Boxing Day and was rushed to hospital. He was later diagnosed with meningitis and was put into an induced coma
‘I can’t believe it’s been a month from yesterday that I was rushed to hospital,’ Martyn wrote on X.
‘It’s certainly been an eventful January, but the love and support still pouring in has been overwhelming.
‘To the people who have shared their stories of having this disease and how they coped during and after has helped me immensely so, I thank you.
‘I’m on the mend and looking forward to getting back to my normal self.
‘To be honest, it makes you appreciate so many things. I’m so happy to just get back on the beach, have a walk and swim.’
Martyn is renowned for being one of the most graceful batters to have ever donned a Baggy Green cap.
He played 67 Test matches for Australia during his glittering career, scoring a total of 4,406 runs for Australia at an average of 46.37.
The top-order batter would play a key role in helping Australia win the Ashes during their tour of England in 2001, notably scoring a century at Headingley. He would also help the Aussies seal a 4-1 victory Down Under during the subsequent 2002-03 series.
Martyn is renowned for being one of the most graceful batters to have ever donned a Baggy Green cap
Martyn revealed that he was given a 50 per cent chance to live, but responded ‘exceptionally well’ to treatment
His career high Test score of 165 came in 2005 during a tour of New Zealand. It would be one of 13 Test centuries he’d amass during his career, before he retired during the 2006-07 Ashes series.
Speaking earlier this month on social media, Martyn revealed that his ‘life was taken out of my hands when meningitis took over my brain.’
‘This experience has reminded me of how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change & how precious time is!’ he said.
‘Bring on 2026… I’m back!’
Martyn also paid a heartfelt thanks to all those who had supported him.
‘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.’
