Kiwi Cricketer Chris Cairns Paralyzed during heart surgery

WELLINGTON: (Web Desk) Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns has been left paralyzed in his legs after suffering a stroke during a heart operation, his family has confirmed.

Media reports say Cairns needed emergency surgery at a Sydney hospital earlier this month and was briefly on life support.

In a statement, his family said he would now begin a “significant rehabilitation process” at a specialist spinal hospital in Australia. The statement added that the 51-year-old faces “a long road to recovery.”

“Chris and his family now want to focus on spending time together where possible and making whatever progress they can in his recovery. We will update everyone when there is more news, but that is likely to be sometime away,” the statement added.

Son of former New Zealand all-rounder Lance Cairns, Cairns was one of the finest all-rounders in cricket during his playing days and played a key role for New Zealand in all formats of the game.

Cairns represented New Zealand in 62 Tests, 215 ODIs, and two T20Is between 1989 to 2006. He has 3, 320 runs under his belt at an average of over 33 and also bagged 218 wickets in the five-day format. In the 50-over format, he scored 4, 950 runs at 29.46 and also claimed 201 wickets.