Chris Cairns, a former New Zealand cricketer, suffers paralysis in his legs as a result of heart surgery. The 51-year-old will now be treated in an Australian spinal facility for rehabilitation. Earlier last month, Cairns suffered a heart attack. He was flown to St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia, for treatment.
Aortic dissection was a problem for Chris Cairns. It is a condition in which the inner layer of the heart’s aorta tears. Cairns was placed on life support a few days ago after a successful surgery. He was solemn yet composed, and he could connect with his family.
Aaron Lloyd, Cairns’ lawyer, made a statement in which he provided an update on the 51-year-current old’s condition. Cairns suffered a stroke in the spine during the emergency heart operation, which left him paralysed in his legs, according to Lloyd.
“During the life-saving emergency heart surgery Chris underwent in Sydney he suffered a stroke in his spine. This has resulted in paralysis in his legs. As a result, he will be undertaking a significant rehabilitation process at a specialist spinal hospital in Australia”, Lloyd said in a statement.
He also stated that the Cairns family appreciates the public’s support and now wishes to spend more time together.
“Chris and his family remain appreciative of the immense public support as they deal with this difficult time. They also appreciate the way in which their privacy has been respected. Chris and his family now want to focus on spending time together where possible and making whatever progress they can in his recovery. We will update everyone when there is more news, but that is likely to be some time away,” the statement further said.
Chris Cairns was one of the top all-rounders of his generation, representing New Zealand from 1989 to 2006. He played in 62 Tests and 215 One-Day Internationals for New Zealand. In Tests, he scored 3320 runs and claimed 2018. In ODI cricket, he scored 4950 runs and took 201 wickets.