Shane Warne’s body was moved to the Thai mainland on Sunday as more details emerged of the cricket legend’s final days — including the extreme liquid-only diet he had been on in an attempt to shed weight.

The 52-year-old spin king was on a boys’ trip staying at the luxury Samujana Villa resort in Koh Samui and had been in the country less than 24 hours when he was found unresponsive in his room about 5pm on Friday.

Warne’s friend Andrew Neophitou performed CPR for about 20 minutes while waiting for emergency services to arrive but Warne was later pronounced dead at hospital.

An official cause of death is yet to be determined but it is suspected Warne died after suffering a heart attack.

Royal Thai Police said Warne had asthma and had also recently seen a doctor about chest pains before travelling to Thailand. Police also confirmed they had permission to perform an autopsy in Thailand despite earlier suggestions the procedure would be done once Warne’s body was returned to Australia.

Warne’s body was taken to Suratthani Hospital on the Thai mainland, about 125km or three hours away from Koh Samui, covered by a pink blanket on an ambulance stretcher.

Mr Neophitou, who was with the convoy transporting Warne’s body to the mainland, told Nine newspapers: “We really just want to get Shane home. That’s all we want to do.”

It is unclear how quickly the autopsy can be performed and when Warne’s remains would be returned to Australia.

But Australia’s Ambassador to Thailand, Allan McKinnon, said police and hospital staff were working to get his body back as quickly as possible.

“They have been very compassionate, very efficient and very understanding,” he said.

Australian officials have already met with Warne’s friends in Koh Samui to discuss the repatriation effort.

Warne’s long-time manager James Erskine revealed on Sunday Warne had recently undertaken a 14-day liquid-only diet in a drastic bid to trim down.

“He did go on these ridiculous sorts of diets, and he was just finished with one,” Erskine told Nine.

“It was a bit all or nothing. It was either white buns with butter and lasagna stuffed in the middle or he would be having black and green juices.

“He obviously smoked most of his life. I don’t know. I think it was just a massive heart attack.” Only a week ago, Warne wrote on Twitter: “Operation shred has started (10 days in) and the goal by July is to get back to this shape from a few years ago. Let’s go.”

The post was accompanied with an old picture of Warne shirtless and looking fit pictured left.

Warne’s yo-yoing weight post cricket has long been in the public eye. He made headlines when he dropped 14kg in 2020 and previously when he lost 10kg while dating actress Liz Hurley.

Rumours he had received plastic surgery or was using drastic weight loss drugs were always denied but Warne did admit using traditional Chinese medicines during past weight-loss regimes.

Warne was renowned during his playing days for eating baked beans and toasted cheese sandwiches.

Former teammate Ian Healy said on Saturday he was not surprised by Warne’s early death because of his lifestyle.

“An early passing didn’t surprise me for Warnie,” Healy said. “He didn’t look after his body that well. He yo-yoed up and down.”

Police said they found blood stains on the carpet, towels and pillow in Warne’s room but said there was no evidence of foul play.

The stains are understood to be the result of Warne coughing-up blood during desperate attempts by friends to revive him.

An initial review of CCTV reportedly confirm four friends rushed to the room to help Warne after he was discovered.

Neophitou had gone to check on Warne — known for his punctuality — when he was 15 minutes late meeting them for drinks.

Paramedic Anuch Han-Iam told local media CPR was being performed on Warne by friends when he and his colleague responded to the emergency call.

“They were trying to bring him back to life. They were desperate. I think one was crying. Really stressed and panicked,” he told The Sun. “They kept trying to wake him. I heard someone saying ‘come on, Shane, come on’.”

Mr Han-Iam said there were no signs of anything unusual — nor any indication of partying.

“I did my best for him and gave all my energy. I’m so sorry that I couldn’t help him,” he said.

Police said Warne had visited a tailor to have a suit made earlier on Friday and ordered two local masseuses to come to his villa.

They confirmed no drugs or alcohol were found in his room, with Warne watching cricket on television before planning to head out for drinks with friends.

It is believed the last inter-action Warne had was with staff from a massage shop who visited the villa.

“We got a request to do a massage at the villa around 4pm,” the owner of the shop, who asked not to be named, told the Guardian.

“They ordered two masseuses. Warne ordered a Thai massage and he asked to focus on his back. He looked lively and happy. When it was done he gave a tip and thanked the masseuse.”

Forensic police took photographs of the room and samples from two water bottles found in the room for testing.

Warne had just started a three-month break and was reportedly in Thailand visiting a poker playing friend who runs the resort where he was staying.

Gareth Edwards is listed as chief marketing officer for Samujana Villas. He was believed to be a close friend of the cricket great and was photographed with him at a poker tournament in 2013.

The luxury villa Warne was staying in commands between $1000 and $4000-a-night and offers breathtaking ocean views.