Australian cricket great Rod Marsh is in ‘the fight of his life’ after suffering a heart attack in Queensland.
The iconic wicketkeeper, who represented the country in 96 Tests, was in Bundaberg on Thursday for an event for Bulls Masters, a cricket program aimed at furthering the sport in Queensland spearheaded by retired greats, when the heart attack occurred.
His son, AFL Players Association CEO Paul, released a statement on Thursday on behalf of the family confirming Marsh remains in a critical condition in Bundaberg Hospital.
“At the moment this is a waiting game and we are unlikely to have any certainty for some time,” the statement reads.
“We know there is a lot of interest in Dad’s condition and our family has been overwhelmed by the messages of love and support from all around the world.
“We have listened to and ready every one of them and we are incredibly grateful to everyone.”
Marsh was reportedly in a car with two event officials, John Glanville and David Hillier, and taken immediately to hospital, which saved his life.
Bulls Masters boss, and former Queensland great, Jimmy Maher told the Herald Sun that Marsh ‘would not have made it’ had Glanville and Hillier not acted immediately.
“John and Dave deserve so much credit because the doctor said if they had waited for an ambulance he would not have made it,” Maher said.
“The medical staff at the Bundaberg hospital were wonderful. We are all shocked. It’s terrible.”
Marsh showed no signs of ill health leading up to his trip north, according to Maher, who had spoken with the Test legend just hours earlier.
“Rod landed at 10:05am and rang me from the car at about 10:30. He said he could not wait to have a beer with me,” Maher said.
“He texted me Sunday, rang me Monday and texted me yesterday.
“He was so looking forward to it [the trip to Queensland]. He is such a champion.
The Herald Sun reports that fellow cricket greats Allan Border and Darren Lehmann were among those on hand with Maher in the hospital waiting room.
Marsh is widely regarded as one of Australia’s finest ever wicketkeepers.
Despite being derided early in his career as ‘Iron Gloves’ for his tendency to spill catches, he developed into an outstanding gloveman, with his partnership with legendary fast bowler Dennis Lillee immortalised into cricket scorebooks the world over.
He’d finish with a world record 355 Test dismissals, only since overtaken by Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist among Australians.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Yeh mate, avoid answering the question, somehow claim you’re point is proven, and provide no explanation. I’m guessing you’re a big Trump fan.
Nick
Roar Guru
Well done. That comment right there proves my very point.
Marty
Roar Rookie
So following that logic then ‘objectively’ he shouldn’t even get a mention if he dies right? I’d never heard of the WI bloke previously so didn’t feel the need to comment. I can you one thing though, if I had felt the need I would have had the common decency to leave the judgement and finger wagging out of it.
Nick
Roar Guru
But that's kinda the point... Because he's a big deal to you you take it rather emotionally. But, objectively it's a 70+ year old man with a history of heavy smoking and drinking. It would be newsworthy if he hadn't had a heart attack tbh. I wish the man well of course, and you are free to feel upset about it...but you plainly misinterpreted what I originally said. I wasn't having a go at you or anyone who thinks this is a big deal. I'm just saying that objectively, this isn't a big deal.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
There was an article on the Roar though. Though for me personally, Sonny Ramadhin wasn't my childhood cricket idol, so his death resonates less for me on a connected level. Where does one draw the line as to what is "newsworthy" re stories involving cricketers outside of actual match play? IMO, Rod Marsh has a fan connection with many Australian cricket followers and so the serious situation he finds himself in is of interest and concern for many on an Australian sports site.
Nick
Roar Guru
Again, another who plainly hasn't read that properly. Mate, every family goes through this. What makes this newsworthy?! Nothing. Do I want Marsh to make a speedy recovery? Yes. Did we need to know he had a heart attack? No. A West Indian cricketer, Sonny Ramadhin died today at 92. Where's your valedictory comments on him?
Marty
Roar Rookie
What a nasty little piece of work this comment is, trivialising a situation in which a man is fighting for his life. Hope that you don’t have to go through what his family is currently going through any time soon, and in particular hope that no one tries to trivialise the situation in such a callous way like you are. Stay classy mate.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Wow. Equating Marsh fighting for his life, to a prostate exam. If he dies, will you equate that to Lillee having a boil?
Nick
Roar Guru
He was a heavy drinker and heavy smoker. You don't need to be a doctor to know that. You just need to read any cricket book of the 70's-80's with photos of him with a lung lolly in hand. By his own admission he smoked like a chimney. This stuff catches up on you.
Nick
Roar Guru
So...are we to expect news coverage of the next time Dennis Lillee has a prostate exam? It's not newsworthy at all.
JGK
Roar Guru
Geez that update doesn't sound good.
Tony
Roar Guru
How would you know? Are you his doctor?
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
That's a good way of putting it.
John66
Roar Rookie
Well, I'll give you a hint. You are reading the cricket pages of a sports site and Rod was a superstar of the sport in a very successful era of the game in Australia. He has then worked with CA, as the Head of the cricket academy and a national selector. I know it isn't Ukraine but it's still news worthy for cricket fans.
John66
Roar Rookie
Ahh the difference between the truly greats and the truly grates. Legend is commercially used now, with no factual basis needed.
John66
Roar Rookie
Who he kept wickets to has no bearing on his chances of fighting this. We can agree however, on sending him our best wishes.
U
Roar Rookie
Sad news. This might help him to decide to take better care of himself which he’s never done
Nick
Roar Guru
A man in his 70's who drank like a fish and smoked like a chimney has a heart attack. I'm shocked. Not exactly sure why it's news. Wish him a speedy recovery.
Nick
Roar Guru
Did you like your own post?
Kalva
Roar Rookie
Sad to hear and hopefully he recovers properly and quickly.