Damien Martyn Released From Hospital After Severe Meningitis: Adam Gilchrist Shares Update

Damien Martyn, ex Australia star has returned home after a frightening health scare that saw him hospitalised on the Gold Coast and placed in an induced coma due to a severe meningitis attack.

The 54-year-old,

who was a key part of Australia's golden era and featured in 67 Tests and 208 ODIs, had fallen critically ill late last month, prompting doctors to take urgent action as his condition deteriorated rapidly.

Earlier this week, encouraging signs emerged when one of Martyn's former teammates revealed that he had regained consciousness. On Thursday (January 8), during Kayo Sports' Ashes broadcast, Adam Gilchrist delivered the most positive update yet, confirming that Martyn had been discharged from hospital and is now back home with his family.

"The wonderful news is that he has been released from hospital," Gilchrist announced. "He's still got a bit of a journey to go to be fully recovered, but it's terrific and wonderful to know he's back home, and his family express their gratitude and thanks for all the support," he added.

Former Australia captain Mark Waugh, who was also part of the coverage, did not hold back in describing the magnitude of Martyn's turnaround. "It's almost a miracle, really," Waugh said. "He was looking in really bad shape when he was in the ICU. "

Gilchrist further praised the swift and precise actions of the first responders who attended to Martyn at the onset of his medical emergency. "The word from the medical staff was the ambulance officers who treated him as soon as they saw him could not have done it any more perfectly, which nipped the infection in the bud. He still has a bit of a journey to go; it was extreme, but great news. "

Martyn's international career spanned 14 years, beginning with his Test debut against the West Indies at The Gabba on November 27, 1992. He finished with 4406 Test runs and 5346 ODI runs, leaving behind a legacy highlighted by an unbeaten 88 in the 2003 World Cup final and his Player of the Series performance in the 2004 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he amassed 444 runs in India.