Cricket Victoria is deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of 17-year-old Ben Austin from Ferntree Gully Cricket Club following an accident while batting in the nets on Tuesday night. CEO Nick Cummins said: “This is an extremely challenging time and we are devastated for Ben’s family, friends, teammates and everyone who knew him. The […]
Cricket Victoria is deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of 17-year-old Ben Austin from Ferntree Gully Cricket Club following an accident while batting in the nets on Tuesday night.
CEO Nick Cummins said:
"This is an extremely challenging time and we are devastated for Ben's family, friends, teammates and everyone who knew him. The entire cricketing community in Victoria – and nationally – is mourning this loss and it will be something that will stay with us for a long time. 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."
"Cricket Victoria is actively supporting the Austin family and a number of impacted cricket clubs including Ferntree Gully and will continue to do so in the challenging months ahead."
"Our thoughts are also with his teammate who was practising with him in the nets - his life has been profoundly impacted and we will continue to provide all the support we can to he and his family as well."
In a statement, Jace Austin said:
We are utterly devastated by the passing of our beautiful Ben, who died earlier on Thursday morning.
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.
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 he and his family as well.
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 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.
We would ask that our family's privacy is respected as we come to terms with our loss.
