Shane Warne: The traditional Australian snack he ate for his last meal

Shane Warne ate the traditional Australian snack of Vegemite on toast in the final hours before his death on Friday, 4 March, a close friend of the cricketing legend has confirmed.

According to Reuters, Tom Hall was staying at the resort in Koh Samui, Thailand, where Warne was found unconscious in his room in a villa he shared with three travelling companions.

Hall, chief executive of The Sporting News website, said there were “no unusual circumstances” surrounding Warne’s death after the former spin bowler caught up with friends and watched some cricket on TV.

Shane Warne watched Australia v Pakistan on TV

“The first question is, ‘How can we watch Australia v Pakistan test here in Thailand; the game’s about to start?’, Hall wrote on the website, quoting Warne.

“Warney and cricket were never far apart.”

A few balls into the Test match, Warne jumped up and rushed off excitedly to his room.

“He came back with an armful of clothes looking like he had been at a yard sale,” said Hall.

“Shane had been working with me at The Sporting News for the past year or so and he presented me with his jumper from the 2005 Ashes Test, his 2008 IPL shirt and a one-day international shirt and cap to place in the TSN offices in Australia and the UK.”

After joking around with the various cricket gear and taking pictures, the friends decided on “a quick bite to eat”.

“I have dined with Shane in many fine establishments, but rather than sample some of the local Thai fare, we tuck into a plate of Vegemite on toast,” said Hall.

“Shane chomping away: ‘Geez, you can’t beat Vegemite with some butter, always great wherever you are in the world’.

“An Australian through and through – this was to turn out to be his last meal.”