Family's heartwarming update after Aussie cricketer placed in coma
Western Australian cricket icon Ryan Campbell has "woken up" from an induced coma after suffering a serious heart attack in London over the weekend.
The 50-year-old former cricketer was at a playground with his children at the weekend when he collapsed, before being rushed to hospital.
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Radio host Gareth Parker revealed details of Campbell's heart attack on Perth's 6PR Breakfast on Tuesday morning, in news that rocked the Australian sporting community.
Parker said Campbell was fighting for his life after suffering the heart attack just a week after catching up with family and friends in Perth.
"Cambo is currently in intensive care in a London hospital after suffering a heart attack on Sunday," Parker said.
“This news is a real shock to his family and friends back home in Australia, who learned about it on Easter Sunday.”
The incident raised major fears for Campbell's life, but his brother Mark has offered a positive update about the 50-year-old's plight.
Ryan Campbell's brother Mark told @TripleMPerth that the former WA wicketkeeper bat has woken up from a coma without any apparent brain damage. pic.twitter.com/H0N34al9H8
— Triple M Cricket (@triplemcricket) April 20, 2022
"They've taken the heavy sedation off, so he's actually woken up," Mark Campbell told Triple M on Wednesday.
"Now they're just look at trying to work out what's wrong with his heart.
"He did a few tests and they're saying there doesn't appear at this stage to be any brain damage, his brain wasn't starved of oxygen.
"They're not sure now why his heart is still being arrhythmic.
"So that's another issue that they're now going to look at over there.
"He's been in intensive care since Saturday night.
"His wife is there with him and one of his friends from Hong Kong has flown to be there."
Campbell played two ODIs for Australia in 2002, when iconic wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist was absent to spend time with his newborn son.
A swashbuckling batter and a solid gloveman, Campbell was a victim of Australia's golden era during the late 1990s and early 2000s and is considered extremely unlucky to not make more appearances at international level.
During an illustrious 98-game first-class career between 1994 and 2006, Campbell starred for WA with 6009 runs at an average of 36.31.
Campbell played for Hong Kong during the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup at the age of 44.
He has coached the Netherlands cricket team since April 2017.
Cricket community rocked by Ryan Campbell news
"The family have been overwhelmed with the messages of support we've been getting from all over the world," Mark Campbell said.
WA Cricket Association boss Christina Matthews said on Tuesday she was shocked to hear of Campbell's medical emergency.
"On behalf of all WA Cricket staff, players and the wider cricket community, I would like to pass on our heartfelt thoughts to Ryan, his wife Leontina and their family at this time," Matthews said.
Campbell's incident comes after legendary Australia legspinner Shane Warne died of a heart attack while holidaying in Thailand in March.
Rod Marsh, another Australia cricket icon, died aged 74 of a heart attack less than 24 hours before Warne's passing.
with AAP
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