Cricket Apr 19, 2026

Damien Martyn: Former Australia cricketer out of coma after contracting meningitis

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Damien Martyn: Former Australia cricketer out of coma after contracting meningitis

Former Australia batter Damien Martyn has revealed he is out of an induced coma and recovering at home after he was left with a "50-50 chance of survival".

The 54-year-old, who played 67 Test matches between 1992 and 2006 and won two World Cups, was hospitalised in December after he contracted meningitis.

However, writing on X on Saturday, accompanied with a picture of him on the beach, Martyn said: "This post is A BIG thank you to ALL my family, friends and so many other people who have reached out to me!

"On December 27 2025 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. And that I did! Fight that is!

"After being given a 50/50 chance of surviving, I came out of the induced coma eight days later… not able to walk or talk. And yet four days after that, with the doctors in disbelief, I walked, I talked and proved to them all why I should be released from hospital to start my recovery.

"So happy to be home, to be able to put my feet in the sand on the beach and to start thanking all those people that reached out to me and my family in their unwavering support.

"This experience has reminded me of how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change and how precious time is! Bring on 2026… I'm back!"

Tags:

cricket news

Share this article

Related Posts

'Ben Stokes needs to get back to batting the way he used to' - claims Nasser Hussain on this week's Sky Sports Cricket Podcast

'Ben Stokes needs to get back to batting the way he used to' - claims Nasser Hussain on this week's Sky Sports Cricket Podcast

Speaking on this week's edition of the Your Site Cricket Podcast, Nasser Hussain claims England Test captain Ben Stokes needs to "get back to batting...

County Championship: Ben McKinney puts himself in England frame with double century for Durham as Jamie Smith and Ollie Pope shine for Surrey

County Championship: Ben McKinney puts himself in England frame with double century for Durham as Jamie Smith and Ollie Pope shine for Surrey

Ben McKinney gave England's selectors a nudge with a quickfire 214 not out as Durham piled up 456-2 after losing the toss at Gloucestershire.A number...

County Championship: Zak Crawley's struggles continue as Kent collapse in response to Northants

County Championship: Zak Crawley's struggles continue as Kent collapse in response to Northants

Zak Crawley made his third successive sub-30 County Championship score for Kent after Northamptonshire ran up a record 684 for two declared at Canterb...

County Championship: Craig Overton's career-best 141 helps Somerset to beat Essex in dominant win at Chelmsford

County Championship: Craig Overton's career-best 141 helps Somerset to beat Essex in dominant win at Chelmsford

Somerset closed out a dominant 10-wicket win over Essex at Chelmsford for a first Rothesay County Championship victory of the new campaign.After Craig...

Women's T20 World Cup: Record total prize fund announced with tournament winners set to take home £1.74m

Women's T20 World Cup: Record total prize fund announced with tournament winners set to take home £1.74m

The International Cricket Council has announced a 10 per cent increase from 2024 in the total prize fund for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026, which wil...

Women's T20 World Cup: Record total prize fund announced with tournament winners set to take home £1.74m

Women's T20 World Cup: Record total prize fund announced with tournament winners set to take home £1.74m

The International Cricket Council has announced a 10 per cent increase from 2024 in the total prize fund for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026, which wil...