Former Australian cricket star Damien Martyn has shared a harrowing account of his recent health crisis, revealing doctors gave him just a 50-50 chance of survival after he was placed in an induced coma battling meningitis.
A Sudden and Severe Health Crisis
The 54-year-old ex-Test batter was rushed to hospital in late December 2025 after falling seriously ill. He was diagnosed with meningitis, a dangerous infection causing swelling of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Martyn's condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to his admission into the intensive care unit at Gold Coast University Hospital. In a desperate bid to save his life, medical teams made the decision to place him into a paralysed, induced coma.
"My Life Was Taken Out of My Hands"
Speaking publicly for the first time since the ordeal via social media, Martyn described the terrifying experience. "On the 27th of December 2025 my life was taken out of my hands…when meningitis took over my brain, & unbeknownst to me I was placed into a paralysed coma for eight days to help me fight this awful disease," he wrote.
He awoke from the coma eight days later, facing a monumental challenge. "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," Martyn revealed.
A Miraculous Recovery Defying Expectations
What happened next stunned his medical team. Just four days after regaining consciousness, Martyn defied the odds. "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," he stated.
His recovery, described as a miracle by friends and family, allowed him to return home. The Darwin-born cricketer expressed profound gratitude, saying he was "so happy to be home, to be able to put my feet in the sand on the beach."
Martyn extended heartfelt thanks to the paramedics from Mermaid Waters Ambulance, the doctors and nurses at Gold Coast University Hospital, and the countless friends, family, and well-wishers who supported him.
"This experience has reminded me of how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change & how precious time is," he reflected, ending his message with a resilient: "Bring on 2026 …I’m back!"
A Stellar Cricket Career
Martyn's cricket legacy is formidable. Key highlights of his career include:
- Earning his Test debut at age 21 in the 1992-93 home series against the West Indies.
- Being named Player of the Series in Australia's historic 2004 Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in India.
- Scoring 13 Test centuries with a high score of 165 against New Zealand and an average of 46.37.
- Playing a crucial unbeaten innings of 88 runs in the 2003 World Cup final victory against India.
- Retiring from Test cricket during the 2006-07 Ashes series after a distinguished career.
The cricket community across Australia and the world now celebrates not only his past sporting triumphs but his incredible personal victory in his fight for life.
