Former Black Cap Chris Cairns is off life support in Sydney hospital

Publish Date
Friday, 20 August 2021, 11:38AM

Former Black Cap Chris Cairns is off life support and has been able to communicate with his family after collapsing in Australia.

The 51-year-old collapsed after suffering a massive heart attack two weeks ago in Canberra - resulting in an aortic dissection, which is when a tear occurs in the inner layer of the body's main artery.

He was then rushed to a specialist hospital in Sydney for emergency heart surgery last week and has been on life support since.

Cairns, the son of Black Cap legend Lance Cairns, was a right-hand batsman and fast-medium bowler. He is known as one of the finest all-rounders of his generation.

Cairns played 62 test matches, 215 one day internationals and two T20s for New Zealand between 1989 and 2006. He went on to become a commentator with Sky Sport.

Cairns has been living and working in Canberra with his wife Mel and their children for several years.

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