Damien Martyn declares ‘I’m back!’ after leaving hospital following meningitis | Australia cricket team
Damien Martyn has revealed that he is back after overcoming the meningitis scare that he said took his life.
With a letter from the heart The former Australian player said on his social media accounts that he was given a 50% chance of survival after battling the disease, which causes infection and swelling of the fluid and membranes around the brain and spinal cord. The 54-year-old man went into an induced coma on December 27 and was fighting for his life in the Gold Coast intensive care unit until he woke up eight days later.
Martyn revealed that he was unable to walk or talk after emerging from the coma, but was speaking and moving only four days later, “despite doctors’ disbelief”.
“My life was taken from me when meningitis took over my brain and, without my knowledge, I was placed in a paralyzing coma for eight days to help me fight this terrible disease,” he said.
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“After being given a 50/50 chance of survival, I emerged from the coma after 8 days… unable to walk or talk.
“This experience reminded me how fragile life is, how quickly things can change + how precious time is! Come on 2026…I’m back!”
He also thanked those who helped him during his stay in the hospital. “A BIG thank you to ALL my family, friends and the many others who 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 my family, friends and people I don’t know.
“I feel like I have met all these wonderful people in the last three weeks or have had them reach out to me with messages of love and support.”
Darwin-born Martyn earned his Test debut at the age of 21, replacing Dean Jones in the 1992-93 home series against the West Indies, and became Western Australia’s captain at the age of 23.
His highest score in Tests, 165, came against New Zealand in 2005; One of the 13 centuries that Martyn made on abundant greens. His average was 46.37.
He also played in 208 one-day international matches, averaging 40.8, and was unbeaten with 88 points in the 2003 World Cup final when Australia defeated India.
