Batting great Sachin Tendulkar on Friday wished Chris Cairns a speedy recovery after it emerged that the former New Zealand all-rounder sufferd a stroke in his spine and paralysis in his legs during a life-saving heart surgery in Sydney.
“Concerned to know about Chris Cairns. Hoping & praying. Get well soon mate, the entire cricketing fraternity wishes for your wellbeing,” Tendulkar wrote in a social media post.
Wishes for recovery have been pouring in for the former New Zealand all-rounder, who represented the Blackcaps in 62 Test, 215 ODIs and 2 T20Is.
Cairns faces a long road to recovery after he suffered an aortic dissection, a major medical event that saw him transferred to Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital on life support earlier this month.
Aortic dissection is a serious condition in which a tear happens in the inner layer of the body’s main artery (aorta).
“During the life-saving emergency heart surgery Chris underwent in Sydney he suffered a stroke in his spine. This has resulted in paralysis in his legs,” Cairns’ lawyer Aaron Lloyd told in a statement to stuff.co.nz.
“As a result, he will be undertaking a significant rehabilitation process at a specialist spinal hospital in Australia.”
Cairns’ condition was described as “serious but stable” on August 11 on transfer to Sydney. Last week, he was off life support and communicating with his family. One of the best all-rounders of his time, Cairns played 62 Tests, 215 ODIs, and two T20Is for New Zealand between 1989 and 2006.
