Australian cricket legend Andrew Symonds has died overnight in a single-car accident. Video / cricket.com.au
Mystery surrounding the tragic death of Andrew Symonds has deepened after the former Australian cricketer's family revealed they did not know why he was driving alone late at night.
The 46-year-old was killed on Saturday night when his vehicle veered off the road and rolled over just outside Townsville. Bystanders who heard the crash rushed to help, but were unable to save him.
Symonds' distraught sister Louise visited the scene of the tragic accident on Sunday, leaving a handwritten note expressing her sense of loss.
"Gone far too soon!" the note read. "Rest in peace Andrew.
Channel 9 reporter Mia Glover told FIVEaa radio on Monday morning she can "see that there's a lot of brake marks on the road from where his car veered off before it eventually rolled".
Andrew Symonds bats during the Cricket World Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 2007. Photo / AP
"At this stage police still have no idea why he left the road," she added.
"One rumour that's going around by locals is he may have swerved to miss an animal but everything's under investigation at the moment."
Queensland Police are investigating the crash and will prepare a report for the coroner.
A witness, who found Symonds in his vehicle after he crashed, told the Courier Mail the cricketer's two blue heelers refused to leave his side.
"One of them was very sensitive and didn't want to leave him," she said. "It would just growl at you every time we tried to move him or go near him.
"My partner tried to get (Symonds) out of the car, to put him on to his back.
"He was unconscious, not responsive and had no pulse."
Waylon Townson tried to help Symonds but there was nothing he could do.
"He was stuck in there, so I tried to pull him out," he told Nine News. "(I) started doing CPR and checked his pulse but I didn't get much response."
Symonds' death is another devastating loss for the Australian cricket community, which had already farewelled fellow champions Shane Warne and Rod Marsh earlier this year.
If Roy shook your hand you had his word, that’s the sort of bloke he was and that's why I always wanted him on my team. An extraordinary player and even better human being. Can’t believe he’s gone. Thoughts are with his family at this time. pic.twitter.com/7r7FiK1CzK
