{"id":351808,"date":"2026-01-04T14:51:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T14:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/351808\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T14:51:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T14:51:12","slug":"miracle-health-update-for-aussie-cricket-legend-damien-martyn-after-more-than-a-week-in-a-coma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/351808\/","title":{"rendered":"Miracle health update for Aussie cricket legend Damien Martyn after more than a week in a coma"},"content":{"rendered":"

By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATE PRESS <\/p>\n

Published: 03:13 EST, 4 January 2026 | Updated: 03:29 EST, 4 January 2026 <\/p>\n

Australian cricket great Damien Martyn is awake and talking after coming out of an induced coma amid his battle with meningitis.<\/p>\n

In a development labelled ‘a miracle’ by those close to him, Martyn is progressing well and is hopeful of being moved out of intensive care soon.<\/p>\n

‘He is now able to talk and respond to treatment,’ Adam Gilchrist, who has spoken with Martyn, told News Corp<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n

‘He has responded extraordinarily well since coming out (of the coma) to the point where his family feels it’s like some sort of miracle.<\/p>\n

‘It has been so positive that they’re hopeful he will be able to move out of the ICU into another part of the hospital, which is representative of what a great recovery it’s been and how quickly it has flipped around.”<\/p>\n

Martyn, a graceful right-handed batter who played 67 Tests, fell ill suddenly late last month and was rushed to a Gold Coast<\/a>\u00a0hospital, where he remains.<\/p>\n

\"Australian <\/p>\n

Australian cricket great Damien Martyn (right) is awake and talking after coming out of an induced coma amid his battle with meningitis\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Martyn <\/p>\n

Martyn (left, with Merv Hughes, right) was admitted to hospital in a serious condition on Boxing Day after contracting the illness<\/p>\n

\"His <\/p>\n

His partner Amanda Ward had confirmed on Saturday that the 54-year-old was responding well to treatment<\/p>\n

His partner Amanda Ward had confirmed on Saturday that the 54-year-old was responding well to treatment.<\/p>\n

‘We would like to thank everyone for the incredible outpouring of support our family has received,’ she said.<\/p>\n

‘We also want to express our deepest appreciation to the medical team at Gold Coast University Hospital who have been nothing short of amazing throughout this challenging time.<\/p>\n

‘This has been a trying time and the family ask that you respect their privacy.”<\/p>\n

As recently as Christmas Eve, Martyn had been posting on social media about the ongoing Ashes series before falling ill with meningitis – an infection and swelling of fluid and membranes around the brain and spinal cord.<\/p>\n

Gilchrist, VVS Laxman and Michael Vaughan were among the cricket icons to send him their best wishes.<\/p>\n

Born in Darwin, 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.<\/p>\n

He was the player of the series the last time Australia won a series in India, top-scoring in four of Australia’s eight innings at the crease in the 2004 battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.<\/p>\n

\"Born <\/p>\n

Born in Darwin, 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<\/p>\n

\"His <\/p>\n

His Test high score of 165 came against New Zealand in 2005, one of 13 centuries Martyn made in the baggy green. He averaged 46.37<\/p>\n

His Test high score of 165 came against New Zealand in 2005, one of 13 centuries Martyn made in the baggy green. He averaged 46.37.<\/p>\n

Martyn retired from Test cricket midway through the 2006\/07 Ashes series, playing his final match at the Adelaide Oval that summer.<\/p>\n

He also played 208 ODIs, averaging 40.8 and scoring an unbeaten 88 runs as Australia defeated India in the final of the 2003 World Cup.<\/p>\n

Martyn dabbled in commentary during retirement but has mostly kept out of the limelight in recent years.<\/p>\n

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