Seventeen-year-old Ben Austin passed away after a tragic accident when practicing cricket in the nets Tuesday afternoon. The fatality, in Ferntree Gully, a suburb of Melbourne’s east. There, he was knocked unconscious by a cricket ball. His teammates were the first to run to his aid. Despite their actions and speedy transport to the hospital, he sadly lost his injuries on Thursday morning.
Ben had just been practicing with the rest of his team when a teammate tossed the ball that hit him out of this world. His teammates took quick action, using an AED on him before paramedics could reach the field. The impact of the tragedy was felt across the entire national and international cricketing community.
Jace Austin, Ben’s father, recalled how the event was a tragic accident that profoundly affected two young men. He and his wife, Tracey, said they were devastated by the loss of their son. “Ben was an adored son, deeply loved brother to Cooper and Zach and a shining light in the lives of our family and friends,” Mr. Austin shared.
Ben was actively involved in multiple football and cricket clubs, demonstrating his commitment to sports and camaraderie. Earlier this year, he won the 49ers inaugural ‘True Grit Award’ given to the player who best embodied commitment, perseverance and the right mental attitude. His spirit and love for the game inspired countless others, which made his untimely passing even more heartbreaking.
Among the U.S. cricket community, safety procedures and protocols are a continuing concern and frequently discussed topic. In every Cricket Australia-sanctioned competition, helmets and neck guards must be worn. At the local and community level, these safety measures are only robustly encouraged. This incident has been a catalyst in addressing safety standards in local cricket clubs. Even former cricketer Phillip Hughes weighed in, commenting on the freakness of the accident.
“It doesn’t matter what level of cricket you play, there’s always a chance that something like this happens,” Hughes stated. He acknowledged that, like Ben’s case, each of these incidents is a tragedy, but the data indicate that such cases are extremely uncommon. “I don’t want to sound dismissive at all – it’s just tragic – but probably the records show there’s more chance of being hit by lightning than there is of dying through an incident at cricket,” he added. Hughes underscored the need to avoid jumping to conclusions about safety measures in the wake of such a tragedy.
Ben’s senseless death affects much wider than his local community. Tributes are pouring in from across Australia and the world. Mike Baird, chief executive of Cricket Australia, expressed his unequivocal backing. He said the entire cricket community would come together to support Ben’s club and family through this awful time.
Mr. Vertigan, a close friend and teammate of Ben’s, fondly remembered him: “He was just well loved by us all, very, very polite, always with a smile on his face.” It’s a sentiment that exemplifies the love that all of us who knew Ben had for him.
