Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns has reportedly collapsed in Australia and is on life support. As per reports, Cairns suffered a major medical emergency – an aortic dissection – in Canberra last week. This is when a tear occurs in the inner layer of the body’s main artery.
The Black Caps legend has reportedly undergone several operations while in hospital but has not responded to treatment as hoped. Chris Cairns will be transferred to a specialist hospital in Sydney soon.
Distressing news from Australia.
Former @blackcaps all rounder Chris Cairns has suffered a major medical emergency – an aortic dissection – in Canberra.
He is gravely ill.
I understand he is on full life support, and is set to be transferred to a specialist hospital in Sydney.
— Andrew Gourdie (@AndrewGourdie) August 10, 2021
Chris Cairns Cairns has represented New Zealand in 62 Test matches, 215 one-day internationals, and two T20s between 1989 and 2006. In 62 Test matches, Cairns has scored 3320 runs and scalped 218 wickets. Whereas in the ODIs he has chipped in 4950 runs and has picked up 201 wickets.
He was named as one of five Wisden Cricketers of the year in 2000, and is the son of former New Zealand all-rounder Lance Cairns. He went on to become a commentator with Sky Sport.
Chris Cairns struggled to meet ends after his retirement
Also Read: 5 Cricketers Who Went From Stardom To Poverty
Post his retirement, Chris worked in Dubai as a diamond merchant in 2010. In March 2012, Chris successfully sued former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi in a liberal case. However, on 14 September 2013, Chris was charged with perjury in England.
With the costs of legal proceedings hitting his family, Chris took up the job of cleaning bus shelters to make the ends meet. As a result, he is one of the few cricketers who went from stardom to poverty.