Ex-Australia Batter Damien Martyn Awakes from Coma in 'Miraculous' Recovery

Former Australia batter Damien Martyn has woken from an induced coma and is making what family members call a "miraculous" recovery after being diagnosed with meningitis.

The 54-year-old, a veteran of 67 Test matches, fell ill late last month and was admitted to a Queensland hospital on December 27.

In a statement released Sunday, close friend and former teammate Adam Gilchrist described an "unbelievable turn of events" over the last 48 hours.

"Martyn has responded extraordinarily well since coming out of the coma, to the point where his family feels it's like some sort of miracle," the statement said. "He is now able to talk."

Gilchrist added that Martyn’s condition is so positive that medical staff hope to move him out of the intensive care unit shortly.

Meningitis is a serious infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can progress rapidly and become fatal within hours if not treated immediately. Martyn’s family expressed deep gratitude to the staff at Gold Coast University Hospital for their "amazing" care during the crisis.

According to his wife, Amanda, Martyn is in good spirits and has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the global cricket community.

Martyn enjoyed a stellar career between 1992 and 2006, scoring 4,406 Test runs at an average of 46.37. A two-time World Cup winner, he is perhaps best remembered for his unbeaten 88 in the 2003 World Cup final against India, played while nursing a broken finger.

He remains one of Australia’s most prolific one-day international players, with over 5,000 runs across 208 matches.