Mike Procter, a renowned figure in South African cricket and former national coach, passed away on Saturday at the age of 77, as confirmed by his widow to the media.
"He suffered a complication during surgery, became unconscious and never woke up," Maryna Procter was quoted as saying.
On Monday, his family announced that he had experienced a "cardiac incident" while recovering in a hospital intensive care unit after undergoing routine surgery. The athlete was receiving medical care at a hospital located close to his hometown of Durban, the media reported.
Procter's international playing career with South Africa ended in 1970 when the country was banned from international cricket due to its apartheid regime. However, Procter refused to be bitter about this decision.
"Yes, I lost a Test career. But what is a Test career compared to the suffering of 40 million people?" he famously said. "Lots of people lost a great deal more in those years, and if by missing out on a Test career we played a part in changing an unjust system, then that is fine by me."
Procter was well-known for being a formidable fast bowler, taking 41 wickets at an average of 15.02 in seven Tests. But he was also a flamboyant batsman who achieved a world batting record by scoring six first-class centuries in successive innings.
After the transition to democracy, South Africa returned to international cricket. Procter was appointed as the coach of the national team and led them to the semi-finals of the 1992 World Cup.
Procter played in first-class cricket for 16 years, spending 14 seasons with English county Gloucestershire, five of which he served as captain, earning him legendary status.