'Heart aches': Liz Hurley's sad reveal before Shane Warne's funeral

Liz Hurley has delivered a heartbreaking message on the eve of cricket legend Shane Warne's private funeral after not being able to attend the service.

Hurley was engaged with Warne in 2013 and has expressed her devastation upon hearing of the cricket legend's death on March 4.

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Warne's family have been left shattered by his sudden death at 52 after he died of a suspected heart attack on Koh Samui island in Thailand.

After the sporting world paid tribute to the cricket icon, Warne's body was returned to Australia last week.

His private funeral service will be held at St Kilda Football Club on Sunday, which is 10 days before his state funeral at the MCG.

And only hours before his private funeral, Hurley took to social media to express her heartache at not being able to travel to Australia and attend the service.

"My heart aches that I can’t be in Australia tomorrow for Shane’s funeral," she wrote on Instagram.

"I was filming last night and, with the time jump, physically can’t get there. These pictures were taken in Sri Lanka to celebrate our engagement - we had all our children with us and it was the happiest time.

"It still hasn’t really sunk in that he’s gone. It seems too cruel that all the people who loved him will never have another Lion hug, but our memories will live forever.

"RIP Lionheart, with love your Luna."

Liz Hurley's message to Shane Warne's children

Hurley had taken to social media two weeks ago to pay her own tribute to Warne, who she was engaged to in 2013.

“I feel like the sun has gone behind a cloud forever. RIP my beloved Lionheart,” the 56-year-old wrote,

Following his death, Hurley reached out to Warne's devastated children on social media.

A crowd of 50,000 people are expected to attend Warne's state funeral.

Coldplay's Chris Martin is reported to be sending in a musical performance to be played at the memorial, while Ed Sheeran and Elton John will also deliver messages.

The MCG's Great Southern Stand will also be renamed in honour of the greatest leg-spin bowler the game has ever seen.

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