"He was forced to take them": Warne's son says COVID vaccines caused legend's death
Sydney, Apr 13 (PTI): Four years after Shane Warne's death left the cricketing world in shock, his son Jackson has asserted that the spin legend's demise was probably caused by the "three or four" COVID vaccines that he was "forced to take for work."
Speaking on '2 Worlds Collide podcast', Jackson, however, also acknowledged that his father had underlying health issues. Warne was 52 when he died in Thailand in 2022 after suffering a heart attack.
"I definitely think that it (COVID vaccine) was involved. I don't even think saying that is controversial anymore. Even if dad had underlying health issues, I think this brought it out right to the surface and that's one thing that I've always struggled with," Jackson said.
ALSO READ: T20 WC star Samson named ICC Men's Player of the Month for March
"My first impression, as soon as I hung up the phone (after receiving the news of Warne's death), I instantly blamed the government. I instantly blamed COVID and the vaccine."
Jackson said he barely managed to stop himself from vocalising his exact thoughts at the memorial service.
"It was probably smart I didn't, I would be in a very different position if I did. But that was how I felt," Jackson said.
"Yes, a lot of people were dying of heart attacks before. But dad was okay, I think he might have got three or four (vaccine doses), he didn't want to get them, he was forced to get them for work. He was forced to get them like everybody else," he asserted.
"...I try not to think about it too much because all that does is fester into anger. That anger is not good for anybody," he added.
ALSO READ: CM Naidu launches quantum facility in Amaravati to boost indigenous hardware ecosystem
Giving an insight into the lifestyle of his father, who was known to be indulgent, Jackson said it was relatively healthy despite the smoking and drinking.
"Dad, at the time, was healthy, he was happy. He looked the best he had in a while. Yes, he smoked and drank, but so many more people in their 80s and 90s still smoke and drink a lot more than dad," he said.
Warne had contracted COVID a few months before his death during his 2021 coaching stint with The Hundred event in England.
However, he was not known to have any major ailment at the time of his stunning demise.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Rajasthan: Officials rescue 2 girls from child marriage; teen stops own wedding
Kota (PTI): The Bundi district administration took swift action on Tuesday following a report of child marriage, rescuing two minor girls who were to be married on April 20.
The parents of one of the would-be grooms, who was also underage, were prevented from proceeding with the wedding until he reached the legal age for marriage.
The Bundi district administration is currently on high alert ahead of Akshaya Tritiya on April 19, a day when a significant number of child marriages are believed to take place among the Gurjar, Saini, Meena, Bairwa, and Kahar communities in the rural belt of the district.
Acting on a tip-off regarding the planned child marriages, a joint team comprising Tehsildar Narottam, Harlal, officer in charge of the Raithal police station, and members of the Childline unit arrived at the scene. They gathered evidence and halted the matrimonial ceremonies at both venues.
An inquiry revealed that the girls were aged 17 and 15 and were enrolled in Classes 10 and 12, respectively. The two girls were then presented to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which ordered their transfer to a shelter home for protection until further legal directives are issued.
Legal proceedings are currently underway, according to CWC Chairperson Seema Poddhar, who added that the court has initiated proceedings for an injunction order to prevent the parents of both girls from arranging their weddings until they reach the legal age.
In another notable case, a 16-year-old Class 12 student from a village under the Bundi Sadar police station limits exhibited remarkable courage by stopping her own wedding.
On Tuesday morning, she contacted the CWC chairperson, requesting an intervention to halt her wedding, which was scheduled for May 1, as she wished to continue her education.
The girl explained that her parents had arranged her marriage as part of a mass wedding event in Khankheda village on May 1. Responding swiftly, a Childline team and local police reached the location and rescued her.
Despite aggressive opposition from the girl's parents and relatives, the team successfully ensured the minor's safety. After counselling, the CWC directed that she be placed in a shelter home, Poddhar said.
Officials noted that this incident marks the fourth occurrence in recent days in the Bundi district where a minor girl has taken action to prevent her wedding. This trend is being perceived as a positive sign of growing awareness, confidence, and assertion of rights among young girls.
The administration has reiterated that preventing child marriage is a collective societal responsibility, urging citizens to report such cases through the 1098 Child Helpline or the nearest authorities to help safeguard the future of children.
