According to his former teammate Adam Gilchrist, former Australian cricketer Damien Martyn has made a “miraculous turnaround” and is now able to speak after emerging from an induced coma brought on by a bout of meningitis.
Martyn, who was recently hospitalized to a Gold Coast hospital after being diagnosed with meningitis, is responding to therapy and can again speak, according to Gilchrist.
“It’s been an unbelievable turn of events in the last 48 hours. He is now able to talk and respond to treatment,” Gilchrist was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
“He will remain in hospital and continue to receive treatment, but the turnaround has been miraculous. 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,” said Gilchrist, who is also a close friend of Martyn.
The legendary batsman and wicketkeeper stated that Martyn’s family hopes he will soon be discharged from the intensive care unit.
“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. He’s in good spirits and overwhelmed by the support. There is still some treatment and monitoring to go but it’s looking positive.
“His wife Amanda just really wants to say to everyone she is convinced that the love, goodwill and sense of care that they felt from everybody, via messages and via the coverage in the press really helped him.”
The 54-year-old former right-handed batter, who was born in Darwin, replaced Dean Jones in the 1992–1993 home series against the West Indies, making his Test debut at the age of 21. In 2005, he achieved his highest total of 165 against New Zealand, which was one of his 13 Test tons.
Before going into commentary, Martyn played his final Test match at the Adelaide Oval during the 2006–07 Ashes series.
Martyn averaged 40.8 while playing in 208 ODIs. Despite batting with a fractured finger, he scored an undefeated 88 in the 2003 World Cup final against India as a member of Australia’s winning team in 1999 and 2003.
Martyn was also a part of the team that won the Champions Trophy in 2006.
