Shane Warne, Australia cricket legend who died earlier this month, was farewelled in a private funeral in his hometown of Melbourne on Sunday. The leg-spinner’s former fiancee Elizabeth Hurley did not attend the ceremony, where his family and friends were present.
On missing Warne’s funeral Hurley said, “It still hasn’t really sunk in that he’s gone.”
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Warne was widely regarded as one of the top players of all time. He died on March 4 while on vacation with friends on Samui Island in southern Thailand. An autopsy report said the 52-year-old Warne died of a suspected heart attack.
In an Instagram post, late Saturday, Hurley, a British actor, said that she could not attend the funeral due to professional commitments.
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“My heart aches that I can’t be in Australia tomorrow for Shane’s funeral. I was filming last night and, with the time jump, physically can’t get there,” Hurley captioned her pictures with Warne where the the couple can be seen celebrating their engagement in Sri Lanka. The two split months after.
“It still hasn’t really sunk in that he’s gone. It seems too cruel that all the people who loved him will never have another Lion hug, but our memories will live forever. RIP Lionheart, with love, your Luna,” Hurley added.
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Warne’s national colleagues Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Mark Waugh, Michael Clarke and Glenn McGrath were seen at the funeral. England’s former captain Michael Vaughan also attended the service.
A state memorial at the Melbourne Cricket Ground — the scene of many of Warne’s iconic bowling moments including a hat-trick against England in 1994 and his 700th test wicket on Boxing Day in 2006 — will take place on March 30 and will be open to the public.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin will reportedly deliver a musical tribute then.
