Australian Cricketer Phillip Hughes Passes Away
Just two days after being hit on the head by a cricket ball during a domestic match in Sydney, Australia's Test batsman Phillip Hughes died at the age of 25. He failed to regain consciousness from an induced coma at a hospital in Sydney.
Hughes, who would have turned 26 Sunday, had been hoping to regain his position in the team for next week's Test match against India.
Australian team's doctor Peter Brukner said at a press conference Thursday that Hughes had suffered a "massive bleed into his brain" during the Tuesday afternoon game, CNN reports. The Sheffield Shield game was against New South Wales. Hughes also played for Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcestershire.
The South Australian batsman was injured when Sean Abbott delivered a bouncer - a short ball that bounces up to the batsman's torso, hit near his left ear as he swivelled to play a shot. The ball struck him at the base of the skull. He immediately collapsed with face first on the ground, BBC reports. He was given CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before being taken to St. Vincent hospital. He underwent a 90-minute operation there.
"He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday," Brukner said, adding that the player was not in pain when he passed away and his family and close friends were by his side during his last moments, USA Today reports.
"As a cricket community we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillip's family and friends at this incredibly sad time," Brukner further said.
Messages of support started pouring in as soon as he died. "It's an understatement to say we're completely devastated. The word tragedy gets used too often in sport, but this freak accident is a real life tragedy," said Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland.
An emotional Michael Clarke, Australia's captain, read out a statement on behalf of Hughes' family at a news conference at St. Vincent's Hospital. The statement was from is parents Greg and Virginia, sister Megan and brother Jason. It read: "We're devastated by the loss of our much-loved son and brother, Phillip. It's been a very difficult few days. We appreciate all the support we have received from family, friends, players, Cricket Australia and the general public. Cricket was Phillip's life and we as a family shared that love of the game with him. We would like to thank all the medical and nursing staff at St Vincent's Hospital and Cricket New South Wales medical staff for their great efforts with Phillip. We love you."
