Health expert apologises over shock Shane Warne claim: 'Should be ashamed'

ABC health expert Doctor Norman Swan has apologised after he linked Shane Warne's death to Covid-19 after the cricket icon died in Thailand earlier this year.

Warne died in March at age 52 after suffering a suspected heart attack on the Thai island of Koh Samui.

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He was later farewelled at a state memorial service at the MCG, where the Southern Stand was renamed in his honour.

The cricket world continues the mourn the loss of the larger-than-life personality.

But on ABC News on Tuesday morning, Dr Swan made an unfounded claim and linked Warne's death to Covid-19.

The medical expert claimed “it’s too much of a coincidence” Warne died not long after testing positive to Covid-19.

He also linked the late Senator Kimberley Kitching's death to Covid.

However, Kitching reportedly never tested positive for Covid and died of a suspected heart attack.

Neither death has officially been linked to Covid.

And on Wednesday morning, ABC's Michael Rowland read Dr Swan's apology.

“Dr Norman Swan has issued an apology after suggesting there may be a Covid link to the deaths of Labor senator Kimberley Kitching and cricket great Shane Warne,” Rowland said.

“He made those comments during his interview on our program yesterday. Dr Swan says he’s personally apologised to Senator Kitching’s husband yesterday and that he made an error he regrets.”

Dr Norman Swan questioned over Warne claims

Following the claim, 2GB's Ben Fordham hit out at the doctor for the comments.

“He should be ashamed of himself,” Fordham said on air.

“We called him out for that making the point that he’s not your patient, and if he was your patient you wouldn't be talking about him,” Fordham continued.

“There’s an unwritten rule for medicos who work in the medical space: Don’t go speculating on cases you know nothing about and that’s exactly what he did yesterday on Shane Warne.”

When appearing on ABC News, Swan was talking about a study that linked a number of Covid infections to a higher risk of having a heart attack, stroke or blood clot.

“It’s too much of a coincidence that Shane Warne and the Labor senator in Victoria died not long after a Covid infection, and people are reporting sudden death after Covid infection,” Dr Swan said on ABC News. on Tuesday.

“It’s not benign.”

Warne admitted after testing positive for Covid-19 that he went on a ventilator, but he clarified that it was for trial purposes and that he was still able to exercise and breathe fine.

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