Damien Martyn says he is 'back' after meningitis left him in an induced coma

Former Australia batter Damien Martyn has said he is "back" after a meningitis scare that put him in a Gold Coast intensive care unit, he wrote on social media.

Martyn said he was put into an induced coma on 27 December, was given a 50% chance to live and woke eight days later. He revealed he was not able to walk or talk after coming out of the coma but, "with the doctors in disbelief", spoke and moved just four days later.

In his post he wrote: "My life was taken out of my hands…when meningitis took over my brain," and added, "Bring on 2026 …I’m back!" He thanked those who helped during his hospital stay, mentioning paramedics at Mermaid Waters Ambulance and doctors and nurses at Gold Coast University Hospital, as well as family, friends and others who reached out.

Martyn, born in Darwin, made his Test debut at 21 replacing Dean Jones in the 1992-93 home series against the West Indies, captained Western Australia at 23, and recorded a Test high score of 165 against New Zealand in 2005. He scored 13 Test centuries with an average of 46.37, and played 208 one-day internationals, averaging 40.8 and scoring an unbeaten 88 in the 2003 World Cup final.

Key Topics

Sports, Damien Martyn, Meningitis, Gold Coast, Mermaid Waters Ambulance, Western Australia