Unseen CCTV shows the last desperate race to save Shane Warne: Photo shows friend and paramedics rushing to Thailand holiday room of tragic cricket star as he died aged 52

This harrowing unpublished image shows the desperate race to save tragic cricket legend Shane Warne by paramedics and his friends.

The still from CCTV footage emerged in the wake of MailOnline’s exclusive revelations that the true circumstances of the star’s death three years ago were ‘covered’ up by Thai police in the hours afterwards.

In the photo, Warne’s mates and the ambulance technicians rush towards his room in the luxury Samujana Villas resort as the sun glinting off the Bay of Thailand through the window casts long shadows down the corridor.

In another image seen by MailOnline, which is too distressing to publish, the men’s faces are etched with concern as they wheel Warne out of the room on a gurney towards a waiting ambulance.

But sadly, the efforts, which included more than 20 minutes of CPR by Warne’s friends and the ambulance crew were in vain as the paramedics believed that his pulse stopped at least 45 minutes before they arrived.

A post-mortem examination conducted in Thailand determined that the cricketer known for his partying lifestyle died of ‘natural causes’ and that he suffered from congenital heart weakness. It also ruled out any foul play.

But as the Mail revealed last week, a senior police officer at the scene revealed that he was ordered to remove a bottle of an unregulated sex drug known as ‘Viagra jelly’ from the room where Warne died.

The drug, called Kamagra, which is technically illegal but widely available over the counter in Thailand, was found close to Warne’s body, raising speculation that a key factor that may have contributed to his death was covered up.

This harrowing unpublished image shows the desperate race to save tragic cricket legend Shane Warne by paramedics and his friends

Warne’s sudden death aged 52 rocked the cricketing world in March, 2022

The cricketer (pictured) known for his partying lifestyle died of ‘natural causes’, according to a post-mortem examination conducted in Thailand

In addition to Kamagra, paramedics also found the prescription drug Sildenafil – the pharmaceutical name for Viagra – and Dapoxetine, a pill used to treat premature ejaculation.

But the presence of the drugs in his room was omitted from the police report into his death in Thailand.

Additionally, MailOnline has now discovered that the masseuses who visited Warne in his luxury villa shortly before his death have mysteriously disappeared from Koh Samui, having apparently been told to leave the island, while the massage parlour they worked for has closed down entirely.

A source in Koh Samui said: ‘The police told them to leave the island because Warne’s death caused a lot of international attention which was not good for tourism. 

‘There are still a lot of unanswered questions as to what actually happened, and both women thought it would be safer for them to keep a low profile.’

MailOnline has examined all the evidence available in the case to tell the full story of Shane Warne’s final hours.

​His sudden demise on March 4, 2022 sent shockwaves through the sporting world. The 52-year-old Australian was holidaying in the resort on the Thai island of Koh Samui when tragedy struck.

As details emerged, a complex picture unfolded, revealing a confluence of health concerns, lifestyle choices, and the frantic efforts of friends and medical professionals to save his life.​

A photo of Shane Warne in Koh Samui, Thailand before his death, believed to be his last one

A super strong sex drug was found at the luxury villa where cricket legend Shane Warne died – but then quietly disposed of by investigating police officers, sources in Thailand have said

Sitting on Warne’s bedhead was a packet of Benson and Hedges smokes – his cigarette of choice

Forensic officers examine the contents of Warne’s luggage after his shock death from suspected heart attack

Warne had arrived in Koh Samui for a four-day ‘lads trip’, seeking respite before his upcoming commentary duties for the English summer cricket season.

The leg spinner had planned a relaxing afternoon with multiple back-to-back massage treatments; first his body, then his feet.

A staff member at the resort said that most treatments were booked through his villa manager, using staff from nearby affiliate parlours.

A second massage was likely booked on Warne’s behalf by a friend or by himself.

After receiving his spa treatments, Warne hoped to settle in to watch the first Australia v Pakistan Test on television and was going to finish off the week by visiting a local bar with his friends, but never made it.

He had hired two masseuses during the afternoon, who left the villa shortly before 3pm and Warne was seen smoking a cigarette outside his room afterwards.

He had booked a foot massage for 5pm, but the woman found no response when she called.

It wasn’t until he was due to meet his friend and business partner, Andrew Neophitou, for drinks and shortly afterwards that the alarm was raised.

CCTV captures Warne casually strolling through the villa holding several shirts after a visit to his favourite tailor 

Warne was found dead from a suspected heart attack not long after a massage. The masseurs who visited the spin legend and his entourage are seen (above) leaving the luxury villa

Timeline of Shane Warne’s death 

THURSDAY, MARCH 3 

Late night: Shane Warne flies into Koh Samui, Thailand. He checks into Samujana Villas with friends.

FRIDAY, MARCH 4 

About 1pm: Warne leaves a local tailor after ordering bespoke clothes

About 1.30pm: Warne is seen on CCTV returning to his villa

2.58pm: Four women are seen on CCTV leaving the resort after two of them gave Warne a massage

3.15pm-4pm: Warne gets a final massage. He settles in to watch Australia play Pakistan on television

5.15pm: Friend Andrew Neophitou finds Warne unresponsive in his room and begins CPR

5.20pm: Paramedics are alerted. They cannot resuscitate Warne

7.05pm: Warne is pronounced dead at the Thai International Hospital.

When Warne failed to appear, Neophitou became concerned and went to check on him.

He found Warne unresponsive in his room and immediately initiated CPR. Paramedics were summoned and continued resuscitation efforts, but despite their valiant attempts, Warne was pronounced dead in hospital at 6:53 p.m.

In the aftermath of his death, questions arose about Warne’s health and lifestyle. Reports indicated that he had been experiencing chest pains prior to his trip and had consulted a doctor about his heart. Additionally, Warne had a history of asthma. ​

MailOnline spoke to the various masseuses involved at the time. One, aged 27 and known only by her nickname of Bovi, was one of the pair who visited Warne’s room.

Pictures on the CCTV footage showed Bovi and her colleague Plu-Gun entering the hotel to give the visiting him for a massage at 1.53pm. 

They left at 2.58pm. Warne was found unconscious in his room at 5.15 having suffered from a fatal heart attack.

Bovi, who worked at the Lana Health Massage on Koh Samui, told MailOnline: ‘Shane was a really lovely man. He stripped off and laid on the bed for a back rub with oils. 

‘He was very much at ease and comfortable. He was very friendly and put us at ease. He seemed to enjoy himself very much.

Thai International Hospital on Koh Samui where Shane Warne’s body was first taken

Warne was pronounced dead at the Thai International Hospital (pictured) at 7.05pm

Warne’s body is picked up at Surat Thani Hospital after the autopsy, which found he died of natural causes

She went on: ‘His massage last for two hours and everything was fine. He seemed perfectly healthy and gave us a good tip when we finished.

‘He seemed fine when we left his room. He said goodbye and that was it, everything was normal.

‘We were both so shocked when we found out later that he had died.’

As the last people to see Warne alive, Bovi and Plu-Gun were interviewed by Thai police.

Warne and his friends hired the masseuse and three of her colleagues for 12,000 baht – about £275.

The women visited the resort, which is around a ten-minute drive from their massage parlour, at 1.53pm.

The four women were caught on CCTV footage leaving the complex just before 3pm. Warne was found unresponsive in bed at 5.15pm.

Warne, 52, had used the services of two of the masseuses after one of his friends had dropped out due to feeling unwell. The pair were among the last people to see him alive.

People leave floral tributes to Shane Warne at his statue in Yarra Park outside of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on March 5, 2022

Family and friends follow a hearse carrying the coffin of Shane Warne at St Kilda Football Club on March 20, 2022

The hearse did a lap of the grounds during the funeral service for the former Australian cricket player

A 50-year foot masseuse – known only by her nickname, Pen, had been waiting for him by the pool but after 10 minutes she decided to accompany the maid and knock on his door.

There was no answer and the pair assumed he was sleeping until one of his friends, Andrew Neophitou, got access into his villa and found him unconscious in the bed.

He gave Warne CPR for 20-minutes until paramedics arrived, took over and then rushed the former Hampshire spin wizard to the Thai International Hospital in Koh Samui, where he was pronounced dead.

Recalling the moment, she tried to wake him, Pen told MailOnline: ‘Shane was having a massage from two other girls who left before me.

‘I was booked to give him a pedicure and a manicure, but he didn’t show up. He was supposed to come down for his appointment but there was no sign of him.

‘After ten minutes of waiting, I went with the maid to knock on his door to remind him. But there was no answer and we thought he must be sleeping.

‘It wasn’t until the following day that I found out that he’d had a suspected heart attack and passed away. It was really shocking and sad.’

Warne’s death shook the Thai tourist hotspot into a much-needed upgrade of its emergency medical facilities after it emerged that the island only had one defibrillator.

Police investigators meet friends of Australian cricketer Shane Warne following his sudden death at a villa on Koh Samui in 2022

The exterior of the Koh Samui Hospital on Koh Samui island, southern Thailand, where cricket legend Shane Warne’s body was transferred for an autopsy

Many questioned whether his life could have been saved if the first responders on the scene had access to a defibrillator.

The island has a population of 70,000 and an average three million visitors a year in non-Covid times.

Anucha Hanaiam and Kittchai Huadmuang, who were the first paramedics to reach Warne, said he may have been dead for up to 45 minutes before they arrived, so it is unclear if a defibrillator would have made a difference.

The men said it was likely Warne suffered a heart attack while relaxing alone in his room well before his mates checked on him.

Local paramedics were alerted to the unfolding emergency about 5.20pm on Friday. Neophitou was still performing CPR when they arrived, as his other friends shouted in vain, ‘come on Shane, come on!’ in the background.

Mr Hanaiam and Mr Huadmuang have revealed that the star cricketer and commentator had no pulse when they arrived.

‘We still did everything we could,’ Mr Huadmuang said. ‘We performed CPR for 20 minutes trying to bring him back to life.’

Warne was not confirmed dead until he arrived at Samui International Hospital.

Shane Warne is seen smoking a cigarette at Sophia Gardens cricket ground in Cardiff in 2005

Australian cricketer Shane Warne with his wife Simone pose for a photo February 28, 1995 in Melbourne

CCTV footage taken from within the villa shows Warne’s distressed friends hurrying from their own rooms into his after they were alerted he was unconscious.

Minutes later, two of the men came to let in Mr Huadmuang, Mr Hanaiam and the rest of their team.

‘One of his friends spoke to us on Mr Warne’s behalf,’ Mr Huadmuang said.

‘He said he had no sickness, no high blood pressure and no previous heart attacks. It was a mystery illness.’

The resort staff on the scene were all in shock and trying their best to offer help.

Between Warne’s friends and the paramedics, they were able to move his body onto a wheeled stretcher to be transported through the villa and into an ambulance.

One paramedic continued to perform CPR while they were on the move.

While the medical professionals are trained to respond to traumatic incidents, Mr Huadmuang noted they were all particularly shocked and saddened by the scenes at Koh Samui.

Shane Warne is carried around the field with the official Ashes Trophy by Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds (right) in 2007

Shane Warne celebrates his 600th Test wicket in 2005

‘Everyone was just in shock,’ he said. ‘They all wanted to help but there was definitely some panic.’

The paramedics transferred care of Warne to hospital staff and did not learn until the next day that he was a well-known public figure.

Workers at Samujana Villas recalled that Warne charmed them with his charisma and kindness in the short time he spent there before his sudden death less than 24 hours after stepping off the plane.

A staff member who greeted Warne and his group when they arrived at the villa said he was charming and excited to be back on the island – after Covid prevented most travel in 2020 and 2021.

‘We know Gareth (Warne’s friend) and they said it’s great to be back at Samujana,’ the staff member said.

‘Shane was smiley and had a certain way to walk, like a bounce in his step. He was here to relax.’

The men all settled into their rooms in the five-bedroom villa and the next morning spoke with their private villa manager to arrange treatments later in the day.

Samujana offers each villa a personalised manager, maid and private chef.

After scheduling the afternoon massages, Warne left the villa to have some suits tailored at the nearby Briony Tailor. CCTV footage show he arrived back minutes before his first appointment, which took place in his room.

Staff were said to be shocked and frightened by the death on site.

‘It’s never happened before,’ the staffer said.

Within hours, a shrine of flowers, photos and memorabilia had been left at the villa as a makeshift tribute to Warne. Staff were spoken with by senior management who reminded them that discretion is of the utmost importance.

‘There is a rule not to talk about the identities of guests at Samujana,’ the staff member said.

‘We get lots of famous celebrities – Hollywood stars, princes and even Australia’s influencers. We can’t talk too much about their private business.’

Warne’s coffin was draped in an Australian flag as the cricketing great began his final voyage home from Thailand.

Thai police were seen loading the casket into the back of a waiting ambulance, ahead of a nine-hour flight by private jet from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also assisted Warne’s family with the return of his body to Australia.

Superstitious staff at the luxury resort later feared his spirit remained in the villa after a ‘creepy’ late night incident.

A staff member at the luxury Samujana villa told Daily Mail Australia a sensor light that detects guests as they walk by had been ‘flickering on and off’ outside the room where Warne spent the final two days of his life.

‘We believe in ghosts and spirits,’ a former employee said.

‘I get goose bumps now even thinking of it again, look,’ she added, pointing to the raised hair on her arms.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said staff had been discussing among themselves the possibility that Warne’s spirit had not yet left the villa.

A sensor and motion light outside the villa, which had never played up before, began mysteriously flickering in the days since Warne was found dead in his room.

‘It is creepy,’ the woman said. ‘We’re a superstitious people but I worry he might still be here.’

Locals who knew or were fans of Warne think it a great tragedy that he met his end on the island.

‘It’s a beautiful place,’ a local Pakistani tailor who once met Warne on the island and is a big fan said.

‘We don’t want it to be remembered for this. He came here to relax and enjoy the beauty.’

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk