Hugh Jackman's Farewell to a Cricket Great
- Actor and six-time skin cancer survivor Hugh Jackman recently shared a heartfelt message for the late renowned cricket player Shane Warne. Warne died of a “suspected heart attack” on Friday at age 52 and was known to “live every second to the fullest.”
- Grief is an unavoidable and essential part of the healing process following the loss of a loved one or friend. And one member of the SurvivorNet community tells us that moving forward after the loss does not mean you're necessarily moving on.
- Everyone's path of coping looks different. But things like time, therapy and support groups can help as you navigate the journey of grief.
Jackman, a six-time skin cancer survivor, is an avid fan of cricket. So, naturally, it only made sense that the Broadway star became friends with Warne one of the sport’s greatest.
Read MoreHugh Jackman’s Goodbye
But Warne, who died of a “suspected heart attack” on the Thai island of Koh Samui on Friday, had an impact on people far beyond the world of athletics. And having to say goodbye to such a person has likely been even harder for many since his death was so unexpected.Like you all I am in shock to wake to the news that @ShaneWarne had passed away. I'm grateful to have known him, and to have witnessed his once in a generation talent. My heartfelt sympathies to his family and close friends at this incredibly difficult time. Rest well Shane. pic.twitter.com/2nL5h0VGZR
Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) March 4, 2022
“Like you all I am in shock to wake to the news that @ShaneWarne had passed away,” Jackman, 53, wrote on Twitter under a photo of the two during a cricket match. “I'm grateful to have known him, and to have witnessed his once in a generation talent. My heartfelt sympathies to his family and close friends at this incredibly difficult time. Rest well Shane.”
In his most recent Instagram post, Jackman also made a video to commemorate the “husband, father, cricketer and friend” that was his friend.
View this post on Instagram
“Today, we mourn, not only in Australia but all over the world, the incredible life and achievements of Shane Warne,” he said. “But we also celebrate him because Warne-y, yes one of the greatest cricketers to ever play the game, somehow as a human being reminded us to make the most of every single second.”
He continued by talking about the character of Warne on and off the cricket pitch.
“Man he sucked the marrow out of life,” he said. “He was a great friend, a great teammate. He loved these fans. He loved the game of cricket. He loved his family. He loved life.
“There’s no one like you Warne-y and there never will be again. We will miss you. ”
Coping with Loss
Grief is an inevitable and essential part of the healing process after experiencing loss. And there's definitely no one way to cope, but Doug Wendt shared his thoughts on grief in a previous interview with SurvivorNet after losing his wife Alice to ovarian cancer.
"We're never gonna move on, I don't even think I want to move on, but I do want to move forward," Wendt said. "That's an important distinction, and I encourage anybody who goes through this journey as a caregiver and then has to face loss, to think very carefully about how to move forward."
Everyone's journey of grief looks different, but therapy and support groups can also be wonderful options to explore. It's also important to keep in mind that time does not heal everything, but it certainly helps.
In an earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Camila Legaspi shared her own advice on grief after her mother died of breast cancer. For her, therapy made all the difference.
"Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
"Therapy saved my life," Legaspi said. "I was dealing with some really intense anxiety and depression at that point. It just changed my life, because I was so drained by all the negativity that was going on. Going to a therapist helped me realize that there was still so much out there for me, that I still had my family, that I still had my siblings."
Legaspi also wanted to remind people that even though it can be an incredibly difficult experience to process, things will get better.
"When you lose someone, it's really, really, really hard," Legaspi said. "I'm so happy that I talked to my therapist. Keep your chin up, and it's going to be OK. No matter what happens, it's going to be OK."
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
