Former Australian cricket star Damien Martyn has made a remarkable recovery after a severe battle with meningitis, an infection causing inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Martyn, 54, was rushed to a Gold Coast hospital in late December 2025 after falling ill, and his condition quickly deteriorated, leading to him being placed in an induced coma for eight days starting December 27, 2025. Reports from medical professionals indicated he had a '50/50 chance of surviving' the ordeal. Upon emerging from the coma, Martyn initially struggled, being unable to walk or talk. However, he defied medical expectations with a rapid improvement, managing to walk and talk just four days later, leading to his discharge from the hospital to continue his recovery at home. On January 17, 2026, Martyn posted an emotional message on social media, declaring 'Bring on 2026 …I'm back!' alongside a photo, expressing profound gratitude to his family, friends, medical staff, and the wider cricket community for their 'unwavering support' and 'messages of love'. He reflected on the experience, stating it reminded him 'how fragile life is, how quickly everything can change & how precious time is!'. The news of his recovery was widely reported by numerous credible sources across Australia and India, confirming the veracity of his health battle and subsequent 'miraculous' comeback.