The cricket world is in mourning after former Australian star Andrew Symonds died on Saturday night. He was 46-years-old.
Symonds was involved in a car accident outside Townsville, where the Queenslander lived. He was the only person travelling in the car, but his two dogs survived.
In a statement, Queensland Police said the single-car crash occurred at Hervey Range, as Symonds’ vehicle left the road and rolled. Paramedics tried to save him but were unable to.
He is survived by wife Laura and young children Chloe and Billy.
Laura told the Courier Mail: “We are still in shock – I’m just thinking of the two kids.
“He was such a big person and there is just so much of him in his kids.’’
She paid tribute to Symonds, saying he was “an extremely chilled operator” and “always had time for everyone”.
A witness, who found Symonds in his vehicle about two minutes after he crashed, told the Courier Mail that his two blue heelers refused to leave his side.
“One of them was very sensitive and didn’t want to leave him,” she said.
“It would just growl at you every time we tried to move him or go near him.
“My partner tried to get (Symonds) out of the car, to put him on to his back.
“He was unconscious, not responsive and had no pulse.”
According to the News Corp report, country music was still playing from his car.
