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The family of Australian Test cricketer Phillip Hughes has issued a heartbreaking statement to the family of a 17-year-old boy who died in similar circumstances.
Ben Austin, 17, was reportedly warming up in the nets before a match between Ferntree Gully and Eildon Park in Melbourne’s southeast on Tuesday afternoon when he was struck in the head and neck area.
The teenager was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident, but not a neck guard, Cricket Victoria confirmed.
He was treated at the scene before being rushed to Monash Medical Center in a critical condition and placed on life support. He could not be saved.
‘All too well’
On Thursday afternoon, the Hughes family extended their sympathies to Ben’s family.
Phillip Hughes was hit in the neck during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground in November 2014.
He was taken to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and was placed into an induced coma, but died three days later on November 27.
Australian team doctor Peter Brukner told News Corp the condition that caused Hughes’ death was “incredibly rare” and happened only once before with a cricket ball.
Brukner said Hughes suffered a vertebral artery dissection in the neck, which caused a brain hemorrhage.
“The condition is incredibly rare. It’s called vertebral artery dissection leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage, if you look in the literature, there are only about 100 cases ever reported,” he said.
The Hughes family said they knew “all to well” what the Austin family was experiencing.
“We would like to send our deepest condolences to the Austin family for the loss of their adored son and brother, Ben,” the statement read.
“Our thoughts are with you, the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, and the greater cricket community as we think of Ben and his love of cricket.
“We send our warmest sympathies as you navigate through this time, as we know all too well … and hope your cherished memories of Ben comfort you.”
‘Shining light’
On Thursday afternoon, Ben’s family said they were overwhelmed with grief.
“We are utterly devastated by the passing of our beautiful Ben, who died earlier on Thursday morning,” dad Jace said.
“For Tracey and I, Ben was an adored son, deeply loved brother to Cooper and Zach, and a shining light in the lives of our family and friends.
“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. He loved cricket and it was one of the joys of his life.”
They paid support to the teammate who bowled the ball.
“This accident has impacted two young men, and our thoughts are with he and his family as well,” they said.
“We would like to thank the cricket community, including Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, Mulgrave Cricket Club, and Eildon Park Cricket Club, for their support since Tuesday evening, and to the dozens of people who visited Ben in hospital.
“Finally, we would also like (to) thank all the first responders at the scene and the staff at Monash Children’s Hospital who worked so hard to help Ben.
“We will cherish Ben forever,” they said.
Cricket Victoria chief executive Nick Cummins said the “entire cricketing community” was mourning Ben’s death.
“This is an extremely challenging time, and we are devastated for Ben’s family, friends, teammates, and everyone who knew him,” Cummins said.
“Ben was a talented player, popular teammate, and captain who was well known in Under 18 circles throughout Melbourne’s south east.
“It is heartbreaking to see a young life cut so short, while Ben was doing something that he loved so much.”
He said Cricket Victoria was supporting the Austin family and a number of the clubs involved, including Ferntree Gully, and “will continue to do so in the challenging months ahead.”
“Our thoughts are also with his teammate, who was practicing with him in the nets – his life has been profoundly impacted, and we will continue to provide all the support we can to him and his family as well.”
Ben’s death was confirmed on Thursday morning by the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club.
“We are absolutely devastated by the passing of Ben, and the impacts of his death will be felt by all in our cricket community,” the club statement read.
“We ask you to please respect the privacy of Ben’s family during this time.”
Cricket Victoria chief executive Nick Cummins told reporters on Thursday the teenager was warming up during a “practice session” at the cricket ground when he was struck in the neck.
The chief executive was emotional on Thursday morning as he expressed his grief for the teenager and his family, revealing his son played with Ben two years ago at the Victorian Sub-District association’s John Craig Shield competition, representing Mount Waverley.
“I know the boy. I know his parents,” he said.
Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said, “There are some days where your heart is broken, and today is one of them.
“The tragic circumstances of Ben at Ferntree Gully are circumstances that are going to be felt across the country,” he said.
“Cricket is a sport that brings people together, communities together.
“It’s also one that feels very deeply an incident such as this. It’s hard to put words on it.”
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He said Cricket Australia was prioritizing support for the boy’s family.
“What we want to say is that we are doing everything we can to support the family, the club and all those impacted by this tragic event,” he said.
“There are things that we have to learn from this, but right now we are concerned about the family and trying to support them in every way.”
Cricket clubs pay tribute to teen
A keen Aussie Rules footballer and cricket player, Ben was an active member of the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, Mulgrave Cricket Club, and Eildon Park Cricket Club.
In a tribute from the Mulgrave Cricket Club, the young athlete was remembered as having a “kind nature, respect, and genuine care for his teammates.”
“Ben was mature beyond his years, a natural leader among his peers, and a cherished member of the Mulgrave Cricket Club and wider sporting community,” they said.
“On the field, Ben’s work ethic, skill, determination, and relentless pursuit of excellence set him apart as a cricketer. Off the field, his warmth and humility inspired everyone around him.”
Players have laid their shirts, bats, and flowers along the cricket fence at the Melbourne grounds on Thursday morning.
“You’ll always be a Gully boy, Benny,” Ferntree Gully Cricket Club president Lee Thompson said.
“Our beautiful boy, our beautiful, respectful boy. Rest in peace.”
Ferntree Gully and District Cricket Association president Arnie Walters said the young cricketer’s death was an “enormous loss.”
“All of our thoughts, prayers, and love are with Ben’s family at a time of unimaginable grief. Ben – who was both talented and popular in local cricket – is an enormous loss to our local community,” he said.
“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.
“We would ask that the privacy is respected of everyone involved at a very difficult time.”
One of Ben’s former teachers described the teenager as a “polite and friendly young man, who had a passion for sport.”
“Ben, your passing will leave a void within the whole local cricket community,” the Templeton Cricket Club wrote in a statement.
Lyndale Cricket Club said the teenager was a “talented cricketer with a promising career”.
“His life ended doing what he loved,” the club’s statement read.
Several cricket teams will be wearing black armbands in Ben’s honor this weekend.
The teen’s friends and loved ones gathered by the cricket fence at Ferntree Gully on Thursday morning, laying flowers, lollies, drinks, and cricket bats in his honor.
The community has also paid respect to the young cricketer by laying their cricket bats by the front door.
Calls for re-evaluated match safety
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The teenager’s tragic death has sparked a fresh wave of safety concerns for cricketers.
Speaking to Nova FM, former Australian cricketer Merv Hughes said the game was still risky despite safety precautions.
“Even if you’re wearing helmets and whatever, it’s still a very dangerous game,” he said.
“And like Aussie rules football, like any code of football, really, it’s a contact sport, there’s going to be injuries. You don’t expect them to happen, but when they happen, they’re just tragic.”
In a tribute to the teen, Banyule Cricket Club confirmed its coaching staff would be “re-evaluating (its) policies, especially in regards to safety at training.”
Carlisle Park Vikings Cricket Club said it would be encouraging its players to wear helmets for “all batting, wicketkeeping up to the stumps, and for any close-in fielding during training and matches.”
“We also encourage all players to consider additional neck and head protection as part of their standard equipment,” they said.
‘Called for the defibrillator’: Tragic scenes
A witness told the Herald Sun about three or four players rushed to help the teenager.
“Someone ran and grabbed a defib and an ambulance was there within maybe five or six minutes. Then there was the fire brigade and police flying in left, right and center,” a witness told the newspaper.
“Everyone was just stunned, not really knowing what was happening and how serious it was, because at first it was like someone had been hit in the head.
“When they called for the defibrillator it was like … this is much more serious. There were players from both teams who knew the boy, so both teams were concerned.’’
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