Shane Warne's son says COVID vaccines caused legend's death

Shane Warne (File Pic)

Jackson, Shane Warne's son, has claimed that the spin legend's death was most likely brought on by the "three or four" COVID vaccines that he was "forced to take for work," four years after his death shocked the cricket community.

However, Jackson also acknowledged his father's underlying health problems when speaking on the "2 Worlds Collide podcast." In 2022, Warne passed away in Thailand at the age of 52 following a heart attack.

"I definitely think that it (COVID vaccine) was involved. I don't even think saying that is controversial anymore. Even if dad had underlying health issues, I think this brought it out right to the surface, and that's one thing that I've always struggled with," Jackson said.

"My first impression, as soon as I hung up the phone (after receiving the news of Warne's death), I instantly blamed the government. I instantly blamed COVID and the vaccine."

Jackson claimed that throughout the memorial service, he could not contain his true feelings.

"It was probably smart I didn't, I would be in a very different position if I did. But that was how I felt," Jackson said.

"Yes, a lot of people were dying of heart attacks before. But dad was okay, I think he might have got three or four (vaccine doses), he didn't want to get them, he was forced to get them for work. He was forced to get them like everybody else," he added.

"I try not to think about it too much because all that does is fester into anger. That anger is not good for anybody," he said.

Jackson Warne opens up about his dad's lifestyle

Giving an insight into the lifestyle of his father, who was known to be indulgent, Jackson said it was relatively healthy despite the smoking and drinking.
"Dad, at the time, was healthy; he was happy. He looked the best he had in a while. Yes, he smoked and drank, but so many more people in their 80s and 90s still smoke and drink a lot more than dad," he said.

A few months before his passing, Warne had caught COVID while coaching at The Hundred in England in 2021. However, at the time of his death, he was not known to have any serious illness.

(With PTI Input)