Heartbreaking new details have emerged surrounding the death of cricket legend Andrew Symonds.
According to the Courier Mail, one of the Aussie icon's dogs refused to leave his side and became very protective when bystanders and emergency services tried to get Symonds out of the vehicle wreckage.
“One of them was very sensitive and didn’t want to leave him,” a witness told the outlet.
“It would just growl at you every time we tried to move him or go near him.
Advert
“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.”
News of Symonds' fatal single-vehicle accident sent shockwaves around the globe, sparking a mass outpouring of touching tributes from former players, coaches, teammates and fans.
Advert
Multiple reports say the car crash occurred at around 10.30pm on Saturday in Symonds' hometown of Hervey Range in Far North Queensland.
It's understood Symonds was the sole occupant of the vehicle, although his two dogs were also with him but survived.
Police say the cricketing great was given CPR by witnesses but sadly died at the scene.
“It’s always confronting for the police who attend and traumatic for the family and friends of people who were involved in fatal accidents,” Patrol Inspector Gavin Oates said.
Advert
“The accident was actually heard by people who live nearby, they were the first people on scene and alerted emergency services.
“They provided assistance that they could at the time and called 000.”
Authorities are still conducting an investigation.
A bunch of big-name stars took to social media to pay their respects as well as share fond memories of their time with 'Roy'.
Advert
Jason Gillespie tweeted: "Horrendous news to wake up to. Utterly devastated. We are all gonna miss you mate."
While Adam Gilchrist simply wrote: "This really hurts."
As Mark Taylor added: "I can't quite believe it. Another tragic day for cricket... Bad things do happen in threes, Rod Marsh earlier this year, not long after that obviously Shane Warne and now Simmo."
Most people heard the devastating news as they woke up on Sunday morning, cricket commentator Isa Guha being one of them.
Advert
She took to Twitter, saying: "WTF is going on..."
Symonds leaves behind a wife and two kids.
"We are still in shock. I'm just thinking of the two kids," Symonds' wife Laura told News Corp,
"He was just such a big person and there was so much of him in his kids."
Max Sherry