The body of Australian cricket star Shane Warne has been transferred from the resort island of Koh Samui to the Thai mainland.

Warne, 52, was found dead in a Koh Samui villa late on Friday and a post-mortem is expected to be performed in Thailand despite a request from the family for a quick return of his body to Australia.

Speaking ahead of the examination, Yutthana Sirisombat, Bophut Police Chief in Koh Samui said: “From questioning witnesses and from evidence from the scene, there is no indication of foul play.

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“According to statement from his friends, Warne had complained of tightness in his chest since he was in Australia.

“But to be diligent in completing our case we must do this (autopsy) to find the facts.”

Warne is thought to have died from a heart attack a day after arriving on Koh Samui for a holiday.

His long-time manager James Erskine said: “We blocked off his calendar for three months, so this was the second day in the three months and he decided to go to Thailand and just to relax, have a bit of time out.

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“And then they were all going to all meet for a drink at five o’clock and he’s always on time, Warnie. And then at a quarter past five, Neo (Andrew Neophitou) knocked on his door and no answer. So he wandered in, he said ‘come on Warnie, wake up wake up’.

“And then they realised that there was something wrong and that’s when they started a 20-minute procedure of CPR, mouth to mouth etc… he was then put in an ambulance and then when he got to the hospital, he was pronounced dead.”

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Mr Erskine said the cricket legend’s family has been “shattered” by his sudden death.

He said: “Well I think the three children are in complete shock. I think they are. I spoke to them yesterday again and I think they, you know. Jackson (Warne’s son) just said, ‘We expect him to walk in the door. This is like a bad dream’.

“And I spoke to Simone (Warne’s wife of 10 years until they divorced in 2005), who was really upset.

“Keith, Shane’s father, is a pretty strong individual, but like everybody, he’s just shattered, they can’t believe what’s happened, and I think that’s what happens when you have a sudden death and you’re not expecting it.”

Credited with reviving the art of leg spin, Warne made his test debut in 1992 against India, kicking off a 15-year international career.

He was rated as one of the five greatest players of the 20th century by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, but the wily spinner’s hard living often made tabloid headlines as well.

Read more: Analysis: Cricket world will be a little duller after death of leg-spin legend who lived life to the full

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