Teenager dies after being hit in neck with cricket ball in Melbourne’s east | Melbourne
A teenager in Melbourne has died after reportedly being hit in the neck with a ball during cricket practice earlier this week.
At around 4.45pm on Tuesday, emergency services were called to Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully in Melbourne’s east, where 17-year-old Ben Austin was training ahead of a cricket match.
It was reported that he collapsed in the net after a ball hit his neck while he was practicing batting.
Advanced life support and intensive care paramedics treated him at the scene and he was transported by road ambulance to Monash medical center in Clayton in a critical condition.
Ferntree Gully cricket club announced the teenager’s death on Thursday morning, saying they were “absolutely devastated” by his passing.
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“The effects of his death will be felt by everyone in our cricket community,” the club said in a Facebook post.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, extended family, friends and everyone who knew him.” [him] and the happiness it brings.”
The post was quickly flooded with messages of condolence and support from the cricket community.
The club requested that the privacy of the young man’s family be respected.
Ringwood and District Cricket Association president Michael Finn said the teenager was warming up in the nets ahead of the T20 match when the devastating injury occurred in front of his teammates.
“Medical assistance was provided by people on the ground at the time until paramedics arrived,” he says.
Finn said the organization, along with Cricket Victoria, continues to provide full support to those affected.
Reports suggested that the teenager was wearing a helmet when the incident occurred.
The Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association also said it was “deeply saddened and shocked” by the death of the player, who played for Ferntree Gully, Mulgrave and Eildon Park cricket clubs.
Young had also played representative cricket for the Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association.
Cricket association president Arnie Walters said the teenager was “both talented and popular in local cricket” and was a “huge loss to our local community”.
“I know how hard this news will hit our community and we will provide all the support we can to our clubs and cricket family,” he said.
“We ask that the privacy of everyone involved be respected at a very difficult time.”
The incident comes just over a decade after Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died from a neck injury during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Hughes’ death shined a light on safety in sports, including improving helmet safety, the use of neck guards and the dangers of concussions.
