Damien Martyn awakes from coma in 'some sort of miracle', thanks public
Former Australian Test batsman Damien Martyn is awake and talking after being in an induced coma for several days.
20 hours agoSun 4 Jan 2026 at 8:57am
Damien Martyn racked up almost 10,000 runs in his Test and ODI career for Australia. (Getty Images: Hamish Blair)
In short:
Former Australian Test batsman Damien Martyn is awake and talking after being in an induced coma for several days.
The 54-year-old was hospitalised late last month in Queensland after falling ill with meningitis.
What's next?
Medical staff are continuing to treat Martyn in hospital.
Australian cricket great Damien Martyn has woken up from an induced coma after falling ill with meningitis — an infection that causes swelling around the brain.
The 54-year-old former Test batsman was hospitalised late last month in Queensland, where he lives.
More than a week later, Martyn's close friend and former teammate, Adam Gilchrist, has confirmed he is awake, talking and "in good spirits".
"It's been an unbelievable turn of events in the last 48 hours," Gilchrist said.
"He has responded extraordinarily well since coming out of the coma to the point where his family feels it's like some sort of miracle."
Gilchrist said Martyn was still being treated and monitored, but medical staff were hopeful he would soon be able to move out of intensive care.
Adam Gilchrist (left) has provided an update on the condition of his friend and former teammate Damien Martyn (right). (Getty Images: Hamish Blair)
After emerging as a prodigiously talented teenager in Western Australia, Martyn made his international debut aged 21, racking up almost 10,000 runs over 67 Tests and over 200 one-day internationals for Australia.
The news of his sudden illness was met with an outpouring of support from former teammates and fans, with many Australians having grown up watching him on TV.
"His wife Amanda just really wants to say to everyone she is convinced that the love, goodwill and sense of care that they felt from everybody, via messages and via the coverage in the press, really helped him," he said.
"They just feel blessed so many people have wanted to support him in his time of need ... The turnaround has been miraculous."