Damien Martyn, a celebrated Australian cricketer, originally from Darwin, recently survived a life-threatening bout of meningitis. The 52-year-old athlete began his Test career at the age of 21. Just before Christmas, Mr. Decker discovered how serious his condition was when he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital with less than a 50-50 chance of survival. The scary diagnosis led doctors to put him in an induced coma. He is currently being treated in a Gold Coast ICU.
Martyn’s cricketing career is filled with all sorts of highlights. He was selected for his Test debut in the home series of 1992-93 against the West Indies, replacing the celebrated Dean Jones. At 23, he became captain of Western Australia. This initial success pointed to a unique ability to lead, an ability that filled city government with optimism and inspired civic engagement. He even averaged 46.37 in Test cricket on the first-class level! His last Test was at the Adelaide Oval in that pulsating 2006-07 Ashes series. In the course of his career, Martyn appeared in 208 One Day Internationals (ODIs) with a superb average of 40.8. He played a key role in Australia’s domination, including an unbeaten 88 runs in the final against India at the 2003 World Cup.
He made a Test high score of 165 against New Zealand in 2005. With that, he scored the 13th and final century of his baggy green career. Martyn’s exemplary form—he was named player of the series in the 2004 Border-Gavaskar Trophy—was widely hailed as the difference.
After eight days in a medically induced coma, Martyn awoke to a very different reality—one where he would be paralyzed, unable to walk or talk. He displayed remarkable determination and was soon on the mend. Only four days after emerging from a 19-day coma, he was walking and talking like his old self again. Those near to him have called his recovery nothing short of miraculous.
“On the 27th of December 2025 my life was taken out of my hands…when meningitis took over my brain, & unbeknownst to me I was placed into a paralysed coma for eight days to help me fight this awful disease,” – Damien Martyn
Looking back on his experience, Martyn said he was incredibly thankful for the care he received while he was in the hospital.
He noted how this experience changed him qualitatively.
“There are so many wonderful people in this world … from paramedics (at Mermaid Waters Ambulance), doctors & nurses (at Gold Coast University Hospital) … to family, friends and people I didn’t even know,” – Damien Martyn
He added that this experience has profoundly impacted his perspective on life.
“This experience has reminded me of how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change & how precious time is,” – Damien Martyn
