Shane Warne had traveled with friends to a luxury island villa with a games room, infinity pool and stunning views of Thailand just hours before he died of shock.
The 52-year-old spin king was found unconscious at the Samujana Villas resort on the island of Koh Samui in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Warne had been on a boys’ trip with four friends, with the cricketing legend spotted just 24 hours earlier laughing with fans at the airport.
The group traveled to the island, the third largest in Thailand, before settling in the villa located northwest of the land.
Surrounded by crystal clear ocean and white sand, Samujana is located just ten minutes from the airport in Cheong Mon area, nestled in a beautiful hill.
The villa, priced between $1,000 and $4,000 per night, overlooks Coral Cove. Warne and friends enjoy private beach access and stunning views of Samui.
With just 23 “boutique” villas on site ranging from one to eight bedrooms, each is equipped with an oversized private infinity pool.
The group was treated to modern Thai architecture, breathtaking views, recreational facilities as well as audio and multimedia facilities.
The villa also came with its own private manager and maid.
Samujana’s website describes it as “the perfect place for friends and family to gather and have a good time” and promises guests an “unprecedented luxury experience”.
Villas have up to 1600 sq ft of space, king beds in each bedroom and sunny day beds around the pool.
Just hours before Warne was found unconscious, he took to his Instagram to share a view of the villa and wished his followers “goodnight”.
Local police said Warne was staying at the villa with friends when manager Andrew Neophitou found him and tried to wake him up to eat at around 5 p.m. local time, but he did not wake up.
It is believed he attempted CPR on his friend for 20 minutes before an ambulance rushed to the villa.
Warne was taken to the Thai International Hospital where he was pronounced dead from a suspected heart attack.
Paramedic Kittichai Huadmueang told local media that Warne was lying on the ground on the ground floor of the villa.
“The friend carried him downstairs and performed CPR. We sought assistance from the Thai International Hospital to transfer him there, but were later told the man had died,” did he declare.
“From what we could observe, there were no injuries, no signs of a struggle.”
“The room was in normal condition. Everything looked normal, as if the victim was sleeping in the bedroom, cool and comfortable with the air conditioning on.
Bo Put police’s Chatchawin Nakmusik told Reuters Warne’s friends would be questioned by police.
He said there were no signs of foul play.
The death was confirmed by Warne’s management company early Saturday morning and shook the sports world.
Manager James Erskine released a statement saying the father-of-three “cannot be resuscitated”.
“Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical personnel, he could not be revived,” the statement read.
“The family requests confidentiality at this time and will provide further details in due course.”
The Warne family also released a statement saying, “It is with great sadness that we inform you that Shane Keith Warne passed away of a suspected heart attack in Koh Samui, Thailand today, Friday March 4th.”
