Thai autopsy says cricket star Shane Warne died of natural causes

BANGKOK (AP) — Police in Thailand said Monday that an autopsy conducted on the body of Australian cricket star Shane Warne has concluded that he died of natural causes, ruling out foul play.

A police statement said the opinion issued by the doctor who carried out the autopsy has been conveyed to Warne's family and the Australian Embassy.

It said the family did not have any doubt that the 52-year-old cricketer, widely considered one of the sport's greatest spin bowlers, died of natural causes.

A senior police officer explained the findings at a news conference held after the statement was issued.

“There are no reports of missing items. There were no signs of a struggle,” said Assistant Police Commissioner General Surachate Hakparn.

“The director of the hospital said from the autopsy that he died of natural causes. His father had said that he (Warne) had suffered tightness in his chest and planned to have a medical checkup when he returned from his holiday. The cause of death is natural, not a murder.”

Warne was found unresponsive in his hotel room on the Thai resort island of Samui on Friday and could not be revived at a nearby hospital.

His body was transferred Sunday to the Thai mainland for an official autopsy at a state hospital. Preliminary evaluations from Thai authorities said Warne died from a heart attack.

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