Cricket Star Damien Martyn Beats 50/50 Odds After Meningitis

When Damien Martyn was rushed to a Queensland hospital on December 27th with meningitis, doctors placed him in an induced coma and gave him a coin flip's chance at survival.

Twelve days later, he walked out the door.

The Australian cricket great shared his remarkable recovery story on social media Saturday, opening up about the terrifying ordeal that nearly took his life. Meningitis causes swelling around the brain and spinal cord, and Martyn's case was severe enough that doctors had to paralyze him in a medically induced coma for eight days.

"And that I did! Fight that is!" Martyn wrote to fans and former teammates who had flooded him with support.

When he woke from the coma, Martyn couldn't walk or talk. But just four days later, he proved the doctors wrong by doing both. The medical team watched in disbelief as he recovered at a pace they hadn't expected.

The news sent shockwaves through the cricket world when it first broke. Former teammates like Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer reached out immediately, and the relief when Martyn recovered came just as strong.

Why This Inspires

Martyn's story isn't just about beating the odds. It's about what happens when you realize how fragile everything really is.

"This experience has reminded me of how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change and how precious time is," he wrote. The cricket legend, known in the 90s and 2000s as one of Australia's most elegant batsmen across 67 Test matches, said he's grateful just to put his feet in the sand on the beach again.

He thanked everyone from the paramedics at Mermaid Waters Ambulance to the doctors and nurses at Gold Coast University Hospital. He also expressed gratitude for the messages from friends, family, and complete strangers who reached out during his fight.

Martyn, now 57, made his international cricket debut at just 21 years old and scored 4,406 runs during his Test career. His graceful style at the crease made him a fan favorite.

But his most impressive performance came in a hospital bed, fighting an infection that kills or permanently disables many who contract it. He concluded his message with two words that say everything: "I'm back!"