Shane Warne: Last picture of cricket legend as his body is flown home to Australia from Thailand

The last ever picture of a smiling Shane Warne enjoying a luxury Thai holiday has been revealed, as his body is flown back to Australia for a state funeral.

The cricketing legend’s death shocked the world on Friday night when the 52-year-old suffered a suspected heart attack while on holiday in Koh Samui.

His close friend Tom Hall shared the picture online, taken at 11am on Friday just hours before his death, which showed the spin bowling king sporting a wide grin and a healthy tan as he enjoyed the trip with mates.

An autopsy conducted on Monday confirmed Warne died from ‘natural causes’, with his body then driven 600km to Bangkok where it will be flown back to Australia on a commercial flight.

Warne’s family have since issued a lengthy statement with individual tributes from his parents Keith and Brigette, brother Jason, his three children Brooke, Jackson and Summer and ex-wife Simone Callahan.

This is believed to be the last ever picture taken of Shane Warne hours before his death on Friday at a luxury resort in Koh Samui

An ambulance carrying Shane Warne’s body is seen leaving the mortuary at Koh Samui Hospital on Sunday (pictured) to be transported to the mainland ahead of a flight to Melbourne on Tuesday

‘The night of the 4th of March 2022 is when a never-ending nightmare began for our family, for that is the date we lost our much loved and admired son, father, brother and Uncle, Shane Keith Warne, a tragedy we will never come to terms with,’ his parents wrote.

‘To find words to adequately express our sadness is an impossible task for us and looking to a future without Shane is inconceivable, hopefully the mountain of happy memories we all have will help us cope with our ongoing grief. ‘

Royal Thai Police chief General Surachate Hakparn confirmed on Monday there was ‘no foul play’, and ‘no sign of fighting or theft’ in the cricketer’s luxury hotel room.

‘The lawyer and embassy are coordinating to take the body back to Australia,’ he added.

Warne had spent his final hours at a luxury Thai resort, where he bought a new suit and enjoyed an hour-long massage.

During an impressive shopping spree, he is understood to have ordered 10 pairs of pains, many ties and shirts and a sharp blue suit, according to The Australian.

Shane Warne’s children Brooke, Summer and Jackson (pictured with their dad in London) shared heartwarming tributes to the cricketing legend

He’d also dined on his favourite meal of Vegemite on toast and watched some of his beloved cricket on the TV.

In a heartfelt family statement, Warne’s eldest daughter Brooke, 24, said she would always cherish their final memories together laughing and joking around.

‘We were so similar in so many ways and I always used to joke that I got your genes and about how much that annoyed me!,’ she said.

‘Well now I couldn’t be happier and prouder that I have your genes. I am lucky and will forever be so proud to call you my dad forever. I love you to infinity and back and I will miss you forever.’

Warne’s son Jackson, 23, issued an equally emotionally message, saying nothing would ever will fill the void left by his cherished dad.

Watching his beloved St Kilda AFL team will never be the same for Jackson Warne (pictured left with his late dad)

Thai Police chiefs are seen at a press conference about Warne’s death on Monday (pictured), where they confirmed he died of natural causes

‘Sitting at the poker table, walking around the golf course, watching the Saints and eating pizza is never going to be the same,’ he said.

‘But I know all you ever wanted for me is to be happy, no matter what. You just wanted me to be happy, that’s it.

‘So that’s what I’m going to do, try and be happy. I am going to miss you so much dad and you were truly the best father and mate anyone could’ve asked for.’

Warne’s youngest daughter Summer, 20, added: ‘I wish I could’ve told you that everything was going to be okay and hold your hand.

‘You are the best dad someone could ever ask for.

‘Our time was robbed. I want more holidays with you, more laughs where your smile lights up the whole room, more “goodnight I love you SJ, I’ll see you in the morning”, more talks about how our days were and just to feel safe when you would hug me and you would let me know how proud you are of me and how much you love me.

‘You haven’t died dad, you’ve just moved to a different place, and that is in our heart.

Shane Warne was described as the best dad anyone could ask more by his youngest daughter Brooke (pictured)

Brooke Warne (pictured in London with her dad Shane) said she would always cherish their final memories together laughing and joking around

THE FULL FAMILY STATEMENT:

Keith and Brigitte Warne

The night of the 4th of March 2022 is when a never-ending nightmare began for our family, for that is the date we lost our much loved and admired son, father, brother and Uncle, ‘Shane Keith Warne’ a tragedy we will never come to terms with.

To find words to adequately express our sadness is an impossible task for us and looking to a future without Shane is inconceivable, hopefully the mountain of happy memories we all have will help us cope with our ongoing grief.

Over the past few days Shane has been honoured with the family being offered a state memorial for Shane by Premier Dan Andrews which the family have gratefully accepted.

The Premier and Minister for Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula have also advised that the Great Southern Stand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will be renamed the S.K Warne Stand. We sincerely offer our thanks to the state government and the MCG trust for this honour.

We would also like to acknowledge the support of Prime Minister Scott Morrison for his kind words both personally and on behalf of the country, as everyone knows Shane was an extremely proud Victorian and Australian.

Brigitte and I are most grateful for the many messages of love and support received over the past few days and thank one and all for their kind words of comfort.

We also wish to acknowledge and thank those members of the media who are honouring our request to respect our family’s privacy and who will continue to do so.

Jackson Warne

To my brother, my best friend, to my Dad, I love you so much. I don’t think anything is ever going to fill the void you have left in my heart. Sitting at the poker table, walking around the golf course, watching the Saints and eating pizza is never going to be the same.

But I know all you ever wanted for me is to be happy, no matter what. You just wanted me to be happy, that’s it. So that’s what I’m going to do, try and be happy. I am going to miss you so much Dad and you were truly the best father and mate anyone could’ve asked for. I love you so much Dad, see you soon.

Jason Warne

The world has lost someone extremely special to them, who has made a positive influence on their lives and it is incredibly touching to see the outflow of emotion and the amazing tributes to him by friends, teammates, opponents and media. It has been truly heartbreaking, whilst also being sincerely appreciated.

Personally, I have lost my nemesis in all sports as a child, the person who smeared vegemite under my nose while he pinned me down giving me the typewriter, my big brother, my mate. I remember catching the train into the MCG in 1982, sitting in the front row of the Great Southern Stand with our fingers crossed the great Allan Border and Jeff Thomson would get the runs needed to beat England.

Who would have thought he would have such a huge impact at the ground in the years to come and that very stand being renamed in his honour. Amazing life. Amazing guy.

Life will forever have a massive hole in it. I will miss our fierce competition on the golf course, poker table and the sledging, seeing who could put the other on tilt first. Love you and miss you big brother.

A man places a can of beer at the base of the Shane Warne Statue outside the MCG as a tribute. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) (Getty)

Summer Warne

Dad, I miss you so much already. I wish I could’ve hugged you tighter in what I didn’t know were my final moments with you.

And your final breaths were only moments away. I wish I could’ve told you that everything was going to be okay and hold your hand. You are the best Dad someone could ever ask for.

Our time was robbed. I want more holidays with you, more laughs where your smile lights up the whole room, more ‘goodnight I love you SJ, I’ll see you in the morning’, more talks about how our days were and just to feel safe when you would hug me and you would let me know how proud you are of me and how much you love me.

You haven’t died Dad, you’ve just moved to a different place, and that is in our hearts. I love you forever, until we meet again.

Brooke Warne

Dad, this doesn’t feel real and doesn’t make sense that you are not here with us anymore. It doesn’t feel right, you were taken away too soon and life is so cruel.

I will forever cherish our final memories together laughing and joking around with each other. We were happy.

We were so similar in so many ways and I always used to joke that I got your genes and about how much that annoyed me!

Well now I couldn’t be happier and prouder that I have your genes. I am lucky and will forever be so proud to call you my Dad forever. I love you to infinity and back and I will miss you forever.

Simone Callahan

‘Who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone the light remains.’

Simone Callahan, the mother of Warne’s children and his former wife of 10 years added: ‘Who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone the light remains.’

Jason Warne remembered his brother as a special person who led a wonderful life.

‘The world has lost someone extremely special to them, who has made a positive influence on their lives and it is incredibly touching to see the outflow of emotion and the amazing tributes to him by friends, teammates, opponents and media,’ he said.

‘Personally, I have lost my nemesis in all sports as a child, the person who smeared vegemite under my nose while he pinned me down giving me the typewriter, my big brother, my mate.’

The family have accepted an offer from the Victorian government and Prime Minister Scott Morrison of a state funeral for Warne.

A private funeral will be held for the family ahead of the state funeral which will be attended up to 100,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

An autopsy report released in Thailand on Monday revealed that the cricket legend (pictured) died of natural causes

Shane Warne’s dad Keith (far left) and mum Brigette (far right) described their son’s death as a ‘never-ending nightmare’ They’re pictured with Warne and his then- partner Liz Hurley in 2013

The family also thanked the state government and MCG Trust for their decision to rename the Great Southern Stand at the ground the S.K Warne Stand in the cricket legend’s honour.

‘Everyone knows Shane was an extremely proud Victorian and Australian,’ his father Keith said.

‘Brigitte and I are most grateful for the many messages of love and support received over the past few days and thank one and all for their kind words of comfort.

‘We also wish to acknowledge and thank those members of the media who are honouring our request to respect our family’s privacy and who will continue to do so.’