Perth (Australia), April 19: Netherlands men’s head coach and former Australia ODI wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell is in intensive care unit (ICU) in London after suffering a “major heart attack over the long weekend”. 50-year-old Campbell, who has been the coach of Netherlands since early 2017, felt chest pains and difficulty breathing while out with his family on Saturday. “As of Sunday night, local time, Campbell was still unresponsive in hospital, though he had made attempts to breathe on his own, according to Perth journalist and friend of the Campbell family, Gareth Parker,” said the ICC. Campbell had been travelling back to Europe from the Dutch team’s tour of New Zealand, and had visited friends and extended family in his home city of Perth just a week earlier. Cricket Netherland tweeted, “The KNCB, Board, staff, players and the Netherlands cricket community are in absolute shock following the news of the heart attack Ryan suffered while on a family holiday in the UK. On behalf of the KNCB, we would like to pass on our heartfelt thoughts to Ryan, Leontina, and family and hope Ryan makes a full and speedy recovery.” As a player, Campbell represented both Australia and Hong Kong at international level. He featured for Hong Kong in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign in 2016, becoming the oldest player to make T20I debut at the age of 44. The versatile cricketer made his first-class debut for Western Australia in the 1996-97 season. During his career with WA, he both opened the batting and played down the order, while compiling almost 6000 first-class runs. Campbell’s wicket-keeping duties helped him take 263 catches and 15 stumpings. Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) CEO Christina Matthews in a statement said: “WA Cricket is in shock to hear of Ryan’s medical emergency after suffering a major heart attack over the long weekend. “On behalf of all WA Cricket staff, players and the wider cricket community, I would like to pass on our heartfelt thoughts to Ryan, his wife Leontina and their family at this time. We know he is in the best care, and hope he pulls through and is able to make a full and speedy recovery.” (UNI)
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