Son of Aussie Cricket Great Suggests COVID-19 Vaccine May Have Played a Role in His Death

‘I definitely think it [the vaccine] was involved and I don’t even think saying that is controversial anymore,’ said Jackson Warne.

Deceased Australian cricketer Shane Warne during the Third Test match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia on December 26, 2021. Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The son of Australian cricket legend Shane Warne believes the COVID-19 vaccine may have contributed to his father’s death.

His son Jackson Warne was adamant the vaccine was involved in his death.

“I definitely think it was involved and I don’t even think saying that is controversial anymore,” the younger Warne told the 2 Worlds Collide podcast.

“With the amount of data that’s come out, even if dad had underlying health issues, I think this brought it straight to the surface.”

Shane Warne is widely regarded as one of Australia’s greatest bowlers having revived the art of leg spin bowling in the 1990s, going on to claim a record 708 Test wickets over a 15-year career.

Jackson Warne said they might never know the true cause, but described his father as being in good health and in a positive state at the time of his death.

“Dad at the time, he was healthy, he was happy, he actually looked the best he had looked in a while. Yes he smoked, and he drank, but how many more people in their 80s and 90s still smoke and drink a lot more than Dad,” Jackson said.

Shane Warne died in March 2022, aged 52, while holidaying in Thailand—the same month Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching also passed from a suspected heart attack also at the age of 52.

A Thai autopsy found Shane Warne died of natural causes, specifically a fatal heart attack.

Jackson Warne is one of his three children, along with Brooke and Summer. He has taken part in tributes and memorial events for his father including promoting the Shane Warne Legacy foundation for heart health.

Jackson Warne acknowledged many people were dying of heart attacks prior to COVID, and noted his father had received three or four COVID vaccine shots.

“I know he didn’t want to get them, he was forced to get them. And he was forced to get them like everybody else. Like dad wasn’t the only person,” he said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews barred unvaccinated people from many venues, including pubs, restaurants and events, with some restrictions extending into 2022.

Vaccines were also mandated for certain workers and travel.

Jackson Warne said his immediate reaction after learning of his father’s death was to blame the government, COVID-19 and the vaccine. He added that he felt uncomfortable at the state memorial held at the MCG and funded by the Victorian government

“And at the state memorial I nearly actually said, ‘I blame the government, I blame COVID.’ But I didn’t, and it’s probably smart I didn’t or I would probably be in a very different position if I did. But that was how I felt,” he said.

Victorian Premier’s Response

In response, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said she loved watching Shane Warne play and described his death as “a tragedy.”

“I have had the opportunity to meet with members of the Warne family,” she told reporters. 

“My thoughts and sympathy continue to be with the Warne family ... the loss was so great and felt by everyone."