This undated picture reveals teenage cricketer Ben Austin. — Instagram/@ftgccblues
A promising 17-year-old Australian cricketer died on Thursday after being struck by a ball, along with his household saying they have been “utterly devastated”.
Ben Austin was within the nets with a helmet on earlier than a Twenty20 recreation in Melbourne on Tuesday when he was hit within the neck whereas dealing with a ball-throwing gadget.
He was rushed to the hospital in vital situation.
“We are utterly devastated by the passing of our beautiful Ben, who died earlier on Thursday morning,” his father, Jace Austin, mentioned in a press release.
“This tragedy has taken Ben from us, but we find some comfort that he was doing something he did for so many summers — going down to the nets with mates to play cricket.
“We might additionally prefer to help his teammate, who was bowling within the nets. This accident has impacted two younger males and our ideas are with him and his household as properly.”
Austin was an emerging bowler and batter, considered by his Ferntree Gully Cricket Club as a “star cricketer, nice chief and an superior younger man”.
Deaths in cricket are rare.
The most recent high-profile one in Australia came in 2014 when Test star Phillip Hughes was killed when hit in the neck by a rising ball during a domestic Sheffield Shield game.
His death stunned Australia and the world cricket community, sparking an outpouring of grief and ushering in stronger protocols around concussion and better safety equipment.
Cricket Victoria chief Nick Cummins told broadcaster ABC there were similarities between the two tragedies.
“The ball hit him (Austin) within the neck in the same accident that Phil Hughes suffered 10 years in the past,” Cummins said.
Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said his heart “was damaged” and lessons needed to be learned.
“Clearly there are issues now we have to be taught from this,” Baird told reporters. “However proper now we’re involved in regards to the household and making an attempt to help them in each manner.”
