egendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne had complained of chest pains before his death in Thailand and also had asthma and heart problems.
Thai police said Warne’s family had told them about his health issues as they investigated his death on the island of Koh Samui.
The star, whose spin bowling made him one of the greatest cricketers to ever play the game, died on Friday aged 52 – only a day after arriving in the country.
“He had asthma and had seen a doctor about his heart,” Yuttana Sirisombat, superintendent at the Bo Phut police station on Koh Samui, told reporters.
He added: “We learned from his family that he had experienced chest pains when he was back home in his country.”
Medics and hospital staff were unable to revive Warne after he was discovered unconscious in his room in a villa he shared with three associates in the Bo Phut area of the popular holiday island.
Police have ruled out foul play but said an autopsy was required to confirm the cause of death.
Police superintendent Yuttana declined to comment when asked about the likely cause of death.
He said the Australian’s body would be transferred to Surat Thani on the Thai mainland on Sunday for autopsy.
Police have questioned the three men that were on holiday with Warne but said they were not under suspicion and the interviews were procedural.
Australian Ambassador to Thailand Allan McKinnon has also met with Thai police to discuss arrangements to return Warne’s body to Australia.
Mr McKinnon said: “I’m here on behalf of Shane Warne’s family and his travelling companions to thank Superintendent Yutthana and his team here at the Bo Phun Police Station and the hospital in Koh Samui for facilitating this process and getting Shane Warne back to Australia as quickly as possible.”
The Australian men’s Test team observed a minute’s silence before the start of play on day two of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
The women’s ODI team paid its respects prior to its opening World Cup match against England in New Zealand.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said a state funeral for “one of our greatest cricketers of all time” would be organised by the federal and Victorian governments, Cricket Australia and Warne’s family.
In a statement, Mr Morrison said Warne brought “something magical” to Australia’s summers, and he was bewildered by the sad and sudden loss.