Teenage cricketer in Australia dies after being hit with cricket ball in Melbourne's east

"Emergency services were called to Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully, in Melbourne's east, on Tuesday at about 4.45pm, where 17-year-old Ben Austin was practising before a cricket game. He was reported to have collapsed in the nets after being struck in the neck by a ball while he was practising his batting. Advanced life support and intensive care paramedics treated him at the scene and he was transported by road ambulance to the Monash medical centre in Clayton in a critical condition."

"The Ferntree Gully cricket club announced the teenager's death on Thursday morning, saying it was absolutely devastated by his passing. Allow Facebook content? This article includes content provided by Facebook. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. The impacts of his death will be felt by all in our cricket community, the club said in a Facebook post."

"The post was quickly inundated with condolences and support messages from the broader cricketing community. The club asked that the privacy of the teenager's family be respected. The Ringwood and District Cricket Association president, Michael Finn, said the teenager was warming up in the nets before a T20 match when the catastrophic injury occurred in front of his teammates. Medical assistance was provided by people at the ground at the time until the paramedics arrived, he says."

Ben Austin, 17, collapsed during nets practice at Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully after reportedly being struck in the neck by a cricket ball. Advanced life support and intensive care paramedics treated him and he was taken by road ambulance to Monash Medical Centre in Clayton in critical condition. The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club announced his death and asked for the family's privacy, while expressing devastation and noting the impact on the cricket community. The club's Facebook post attracted condolences. Local cricket bodies and Cricket Victoria offered support; reports suggested he may have been wearing a helmet.

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