Former Australian batter Damien Martyn has opened up about his “miraculous” recovery from meningitis, saying that he was given a “50/50 chance of survival” and was unable to walk or talk when he first awoke from an induced coma.
Speaking on Instagram, the former Australian cricket great wrote: "This post is a BIG thank you to ALL my family, friends and so many other people who have reached out to me. On December 27, 2025, my life was taken out of my hands when meningitis affected my brain. Unbeknownst to me, I was placed in a paralysed coma for eight days to help fight this terrible disease. And fight I did."
View this post on Instagram
"After being given a 50/50 chance of survival, I emerged from the induced coma eight days later, unable to walk or talk. Yet, four days afterwards, to the disbelief of the doctors, I walked, I talked and proved why I should be released from hospital to begin my recovery."
"I am so happy to be home, to feel the sand beneath my feet on the beach, and to begin thanking all those who reached out to me and my family with their unwavering support. This experience has reminded me how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change, and how precious time truly is."
"There are so many wonderful people in this world – from paramedics at Mermaid Waters Ambulance, to doctors and nurses at Gold Coast University Hospital, to family, friends and even people I did not know. Over the past three weeks, I have met these fantastic people, or they reached out through messages of love and support," he said.
Martyn maintained: "I am so grateful to you all. Thank you. Bring on 2026 – I’m back!"
