A 17-year-old cricketer from Melbourne died after being struck by a ball during a practice session.
Ben Austin, a promising young player from Ferntree Gully, was hit in the neck while training in the nets at the Wally Tew Reserve in Melbourne’s east on Tuesday afternoon.
It is understood that Austin was wearing a helmet but not a stem guard, a protective flap that covers the base of the skull and neck, according to 7News. Witnesses said he collapsed almost immediately after the impact.
Emergency services were called to the ground shortly before 5pm local time. Paramedics provided life support before rushing him to the Monash Children’s Hospital in a critical condition where he passed away.
The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, where Austin had played since childhood, said it was “absolutely devastated” by the loss.
They publicly announced his death on Thursday. “The impacts of his death will be felt by all in our cricket community,” the club said in a Facebook post.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family … his extended family, his friends and to all of those who knew [him] and the joy that he brought.”
The cricket association’s president, Arnie Walters, described the the teenager as “both talented and popular in local cricket”, and “an enormous loss to our local community”.
“I know how heavily this news will land across our community and we will provide any and all support we can to our clubs and cricket family,” he said.
“We would ask that the privacy is respected of everyone involved at a very difficult time.”
Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins said the details of the incident were still being pieced together.
“Details are scant because we’re dealing with people who have suffered significant trauma,” he said. “But our understanding is that a group of boys were having a practice session and a boy was hit with a ball that was thrown with a sidearm.”
“Ben was a very passionate cricketer and the family are a very passionate cricketing family. Ben is one of those boys or girls where they can’t wait for Saturday. He was using every one of his waking hours to play cricket.
“A very bright light that has been dimmed.”
