Australian cricket star Shane Warne died from “natural causes”, Thai police have confirmed.

His family have been informed, and “don’t have any doubts about the cause of death”, according to officers.

Warne died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 52 on Friday while on holiday in Koh Samui, Thailand.

The former leg spin bowler was found in his villa. He is understood to have experienced chest pains before his death.

Deputy national police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen said in a statement on Monday: “Today investigators received the autopsy result, in which the medical opinion is that the cause of death is natural.”

Warne’s body will now be transferred to Australian consular officials for return to his family. He will be honoured with a state funeral in his home country.

Warne had a history of asthma and “had seen a doctor about his heart”, according to Yutthana Sirisombat, Bophut Police Chief in Koh Samui.

The star had also previously contracted COVID-19 in 2021.

Tributes have poured in for Warne, who is widely seen to have revolutionised cricket for spinners.

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His former fiancee Liz Hurley paid tribute to the sportsman on Instagram, describing him as her “beloved Lionheart”.

Sharing a selection of photos of them together, she wrote: “I feel like the sun has gone behind a cloud forever. RIP my beloved Lionheart @shanewarne23.”

A post shared by Elizabeth Hurley (@elizabethhurley1)

Her son, model and actor Damian Hurley, 19, also posted a tribute, calling Warne a “father figure to me for most of my formative years” and “truly one the best men I’ve ever known”.

Alongside a gallery of family photos of happy times with the Australian star, he added that his “heart is broken”.

A post shared by Damian Hurley (@damianhurley1)

Former England cricket captain Nasser Hussain told Sky News: “He was an outstanding cricketer. Some people are brilliant at the game, some people have genius, and some people have fight and Shane Warne had everything in abundance.”

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.

Warne leaves behind three children.

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