Chris Cairns is reportedly fighting for life at a local hospital in Canberra after collapsing due to heart complications. Cairns is currently on life support, and has not responded to treatment. He is likely to be referred to a specialist clinic in Sydney.
As per a local daily, Cairns is suffering from an aortic dissection, in which the inner layer of the artery gets torn.
In his days, Cairns featured in 62 Tests and 215 ODIs before bidding adieu to the game in 2006. He is considered as one of the greatest New Zealand all-rounders.
Cairns played his part in some of the most iconic matches of that era, including a hundred to help New Zealand beat India in the final of the 2000 Champions Trophy. It was the first time New Zealand won an ICC Trophy.
Cairns’ last appearance for New Zealand came in an ODI against Sri Lanka in 2004. He later signed up for Chandigarh Lions in the now-defunct Indian Cricket League.
He faced match-fixing allegations in 2008. The legal expenses to prove his innocence took a toll on his finances, and had to work as a truck driver and a bus station cleaner in his later years to pay his bills.