An Australian teenage cricket player lost his life after being hit by a ball in the neck during a practice session in Melbourne.
The victim was identified as 17-year-old Ben Austin, who was training in cricket nets in Ferntree Gully on Tuesday. During the session, he was struck by a ball that was launched by an automatic bowling machine. He was later pronounced dead despite wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
Australian Teenager Dies During Cricket Training Session
Shortly before 17:00 local time, emergency workers were called to the scene of the incident, and they quickly transported the teenage boy to Monash Children's Hospital, where he was said to be in critical condition. Despite being put on life support, he was declared dead on Wednesday.
In a statement following the tragedy, the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club said it was "absolutely devastated" to hear of the "tragic passing" of one of its players. It added that the victim's death will "be felt by all in our cricket community," according to BBC.
Additionally, Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association president Arnie Walters said that the teenage player was "both talented and popular in local cricket." He noted that the tragedy weighs heavily on the community. Walters added they will provide all support they can to their clubs and cricket family.
The teenage boy's cricket club posted on social media, where it extended condolences to the victim's family and friends, as well as people who knew him and the "joy that he brought." The post asked the public to respect the privacy of Ben's family during this time.
Struck in the Neck
Michael Finn, the Ringwood and District Cricket Association president, said that Ben was warming up in the nets before a T20 match when the incident occurred. He added that people on the ground quickly provided medical assistance until paramedics arrived, The Guardian reported.
Ben was said to have also played representative cricket for the Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association. The tragic incident comes a little over a decade after the death of an Australian cricketer, Phillip Hughes. He died after he was struck in the neck during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said that the teenage player's death would be "felt across the country." He added that cricket is a sport that brings people and communities together. He added that the incident highlights the need for changes to keep players safe, as per ABC.net.
