Shane Warne: Family accept offer of state funeral for Australia legend
- Published
Flowers, beer and cricket memorabilia have been left by fans at Shane Warne's statue outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Shane Warne's family have accepted the offer of a state funeral, says Victorian Premier Dan Andrews.
Legendary Australia spinner Warne died of a suspected heart attack in Thailand on Friday, aged 52.
Flowers, beer and photographs have been left at Warne's statue at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as fans paid tribute.
"It will be an opportunity for Victorians to pay tribute to his contribution to his sport, to our state and the country," Andrews said.
State funerals are held to honour people of national significance.
Warne took 708 wickets - the second most of all time - in 145 Tests across a stellar 15-year international career that ended in 2007.
"I've spoken with the Warne family again today and they have accepted my offer of a state funeral to remember Shane," Andrews said., external
"Details will be finalised in the coming days."
Warne was found unresponsive by friends in his villa on the Thai island of Koh Samui.
His manager James Erskine said Warne's family are in "complete shock".
"I spoke to them yesterday and Jackson (Warne's son) said, 'We expect him to walk in the door. This is like a bad dream,'" Erskine told Australia's Nine Network.
"Keith, Shane's father, is a pretty strong individual but, like everybody, he's just shattered. They can't believe what's happened."
Tributes have been paid to Warne from across sport, with a stand at the MCG set to be named after him.
His body was taken to the Thai city of Surat Thani on Sunday for an autopsy.
Thai police are not treating the death as suspicious.
"His friends said that he had had chest pain since he was in Australia," said Yutthana Srisombat, superintendent of police in Bo Phut.
"Based on the evidence, we don't see other possible cause of death."