Shane Warne’s family reportedly want any autopsy on the cricket star to be delayed until he is back in Australia, as the world continues to reel from his shock death.
Warne, 52, died after suffering a suspected heart attack in Thailand on Friday afternoon.
He was found unresponsive in a villa in Koh Samui, when one friend reportedly tried to wake him to no avail.
Now, his devastated family is being faced with the difficult logistics of trying to get the Australian legend’s body home.
His family is reportedly pushing for an autopsy not to be completed until Warne’s body is back in Australia, in a bid to get him home as soon as possible.
However, Thai authorities have said an autopsy will first need to be completed before his body can be released.
Bo Phut police lieutenant-colonel Chatchawin Nakmusik told The Guardian he would be contacting Warne’s friends and manager for a statement.
“I am waiting for the autopsy report. If there is nothing suspicious, then the case is closed,” he said.
“The family will be responsible to take the body back to their home country.”
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials were heading to Koh Samui to provide assistance to those travelling with Warne.
“DFAT is working with Thai authorities to confirm arrangements following his passing, assist with his repatriation and provide other assistance on the ground,” she said.
Thai forensic investigators examined the hotel room on Saturday evening where Warne was found.
Australian consular officials accompanied his devastated friends to provide statements to authorities.
The friend who found Warne, Andrew Neophitou, briefly spoke with reporters after meeting with police on Saturday.
“The family has asked for privacy at this stage,” Mr Neophitou said.
“We really just want to get Shane home. That’s all we want to do.”
Warne’s death came just days after he declared he was aiming to return to peak fitness again.
The cricket legend’s close friend and long-time manager James Erskine revealed the gut-wrenching moment Warne was found unresponsive by Mr Neophitou.
“They’d only arrived the night before. They were going to have a drink at 5 o’clock … and Neo knocked on his door at 5.15 because Warney’s always on time and then he went in there and said ‘c’mon, you’re going to be late’ and then realised something was wrong,” Erskine revealed on a memorial show on Fox Cricket.
“He turned him over, gave him CPR mouth-to-mouth, that lasted about 20 minutes, then obviously the ambulance came, they took him to the hospital, which was about 20 minutes drive and then within, I suppose, I got a phone call 45 minutes later to say he was pronounced dead.”
According to local Thai news, the Wat Plai Leam rescue team were the first ones on the scene after Warne was found.
“We got a call around 17.30 about an unconscious case,” rescue team chief, Phet Boonrak, said.
“We got there in five minutes. The person was unconscious and had a weak pulse, so we tried CPR and called the ambulance. His friends were so shocked. They said they had found him unconscious on the bed and moved him to the floor to attempt CPR.”
He said there was “vomit on the floor” but no signs of any injuries.
“The ambulance arrived within 15 minutes, they took him to the hospital immediately.”
Thai police have said “no foul play was suspected”.
Emotional tributes pour in for Warne
Tributes have been pouring in for the cricket star since Australia and the world woke to news of his death on Saturday.
Fox Cricket held a special tribute to Warne on Saturday, with his former teammates, commentary colleagues and cricketing luminaries honouring the man affectionately known as “The King”.
Former England star Isa Guha left no dry eyes in the place as she paid tribute to Warne.
“Just stunned. I loved him, and he just did so much for so many people and he was magic,” Guha said.
“He was magic, watching him on the screen as a cricketer.
“So many incredible stories of him playing cricket.
“But post that, he just made people feel that much taller, ten foot taller, which is a tremendous help to me, specifically.”
She said Warne supported her as a broadcaster but also radiated gratitude for his life and his family.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan struggled to get through his interview on Fox Cricket, saying he was “like everybody else, absolutely gutted” and that he was “distraught”.
Vaughan, who commentated alongside Warne during the Ashes, said he went from rivals on the field to mates off it.
The former English captain said he shared Warne’s last Christmas with Shane and his family and said it was “very special to me”.
Former Australian captain Allan Border said he had shed plenty of tears following the news.
“I’ve shed some tears over the last couple of days with Rod Marsh. It’s going to be hard getting through the next couple of days finally realising I’m not going to see Shane again,” Border said.
“It’s just so sad.”
Warne has been offered a State Funeral and the Great Southern Stand at his beloved MCG will be renamed the S.K. Warne Stand in his honour.
– with Andrew McMurty