A 17-year-old cricketer, Ben Austin, has died after being hit in the head during a training session at Ferntree Gully in suburban Melbourne, local cricket officials confirmed on Thursday.

Austin was batting in the nets during practice on Tuesday when he was struck by a ball. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition but later died from his injuries.

“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 Ferntree Gully Cricket Club said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends, and all those who knew Ben and the joy that he brought.”

Ringwood and District Cricket Association president Michael Finn said Austin was warming up in the nets when the incident occurred. “Medical assistance was provided by people at the ground until the paramedics arrived,” he said.

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Cricket Australia also released a statement from Ben’s father, Jace Austin, expressing the family’s grief and support for those affected. “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,” the statement read. “We would also like to support his teammate who was bowling in the nets — this accident has impacted two young men and our thoughts are with him and his family as well.”

The incident has drawn comparisons to the death of Australian international cricketer Phillip Hughes, who died in 2014 after being struck near the ear by a ball during a first-class match in Sydney. His death led to new safety regulations for batting helmets in professional cricket.

Source: AP