Former Australian cricket star Damien Martyn has made a triumphant declaration of "I'm back!" after being discharged from hospital following a life-threatening bout of meningitis.
A Terrifying Health Battle
In a heartfelt social media post, the 54-year-old ex-batter revealed the severity of his condition, stating doctors had given him just a 50/50 chance of surviving. The illness, which causes dangerous swelling around the brain and spinal cord, led to him being placed in an induced coma on 27 December at the Gold Coast University Hospital.
Martyn spent eight days fighting for his life in the intensive care unit before waking. He described the experience as having his "life taken out of my hands" after meningitis attacked his brain.
A Remarkable Recovery
The cricketer's road to recovery presented immediate challenges. Upon emerging from the coma, he found himself unable to walk or talk. However, in what he called a moment that left "doctors in disbelief," Martyn began speaking and moving just four days later.
"This experience has reminded me of how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change and how precious time is!" Martyn wrote. "Bring on 2026 …I’m back!"
Gratitude for Medical Heroes and Supporters
Martyn extended profound thanks to the medical teams and well-wishers who supported him through the ordeal. He specifically praised the paramedics from Mermaid Waters Ambulance and the doctors and nurses at Gold Coast University Hospital.
"A BIG thank you to ALL my family, friends and so many other people who have reached out to me," he said. "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."
Damien Martyn, born in Darwin, enjoyed a distinguished international career. He made his Test debut at 21 during the 1992-93 home series against the West Indies, replacing Dean Jones. He later captained Western Australia at just 23 years old.
His Test career was marked by 13 centuries, with a high score of 165 against New Zealand in 2005, resulting in an impressive average of 46.37. In One Day Internationals, he played 208 matches, averaging 40.8. A highlight was his unbeaten 88 in the final of the 2003 World Cup, which helped Australia secure victory against India.
