The repatriation of deceased cricket great Shane Warne was in its final stages on Thursday morning, six days after his shock death at the age of 52 from a heart attack on the Thai island of Koh Samui.

A casket containing Warne’s body and wrapped in an Australian flag was loaded into a van before dawn outside the forensic wing of Bangkok’s Police General Hospital, before being transported to Don Mueang Airport for a charter flight back to Melbourne.

Entertainment reporter Peter Ford told Gareth Parker and 6PR Breakfast listeners Warne’s parents would be at the airport in Melbourne when his body arrives, ahead of a state funeral on March 30.

Press PLAY below to hear more about the repatriation and state funeral for Warnie.