The parents of cricket great Shane Warne say his sudden death in Thailand is a "never-ending nightmare" and "a tragedy we will never come to terms with".
Keith and Brigitte Warne, along with other family members, released a statement on Monday in the wake of Warne's death at the age of 52 on the island of Koh Samui last Friday.
It came as Thailand police announced that Warne's death was from a suspected heart attack, with no suspicious circumstances.
"Today, investigators received the autopsy result, in which the medical opinion is that the cause of death is natural," Thai deputy national police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen told reporters.
The body will be transferred to Australian consular officials for return to Australia ahead of a state funeral in his hometown of Melbourne.
The family said they "gratefully accepted" the offer of a state funeral by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
"Brigitte and I are most grateful for the many messages of love and support received over the past few days and thank one and all for their kind words of comfort," Keith Warne said.
Other Warne family members to share their comments included daughters Summer and Brooke, son Jackson, brother Jason and ex-wife Simone.
"I am going to miss you so much Dad and you were truly the best father and mate anyone could've asked for," Jackson Warne said.
"Sitting at the poker table, walking around the golf course, watching the Saints and eating pizza is never going to be the same."
Summer Warne expressed regret at not hugging her father harder the last time she saw him.
"I wish I could’ve hugged you tighter in what I didn’t know were my final moments with you. And your final breaths were only moments away," she said.
"I wish I could’ve told you that everything was going to be okay and hold your hand."
Brooke Warne said she struggled to "make sense that you are not here with us anymore".
Jason Warne reflected on watching Ashes cricket with his brother as children without having an inkling of what lay ahead.
"I remember catching the train into the MCG in 1982, sitting in the front row of the Great Southern Stand with our fingers crossed the great Allan Border and Jeff Thomson would get the runs needed to beat England," he said.
"Who would have thought he would have such a huge impact at the ground in the years to come and that very stand being renamed in his honour."
His former wife Simone — now Simone Callahan — described her ex-husband as "a light".
“Who bring [sic] a light so great to the world that even after they have gone the light remains," she said.
ABC/Reuters
