Heartbreaking! 17 year-old cricketer dies after being struck in neck and head area by ball

A 17-year-old cricketer who died in hospital after being struck by a ball during a training session has been remembered by his family as "a shining light". Ben Austin was batting in the nets when he was hit in the head and neck at Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully in Melbourne's outer-east about 4.45pm on Tuesday. The teenager was rushed to Monash Medical Centre in a critical condition and placed on life support.

He passed away early this morning. "We are utterly devastated by the passing of our beautiful Ben. 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," Ben's father Jace Austin said in a statement this afternoon. "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." The family also offered their support to Ben's teammate, who was bowling in the nets using a plastic slinger when it hit the 17-year-old. "This accident has impacted two young men and our thoughts are with he and his family as well," Jace said.

The Austin family said Ben was visited in hospital by dozens of people from the local cricket community, where he was involved in several clubs including Ferntree Gully Cricket Club, Mulgrave Cricket Club and Eildon Park Cricket Club. "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," Jace said. "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." The Austin family has asked for privacy as they come to terms with their loss. AFL community remembers 'vibrant' young umpire Outside of his cricketing career, Ben has also been remembered as a "talented footballer" and umpire who finished runner-up in Waverley Park Hawks' Under 17 best and fairest this season. The Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) released a statement today mourning the loss of the "emerging star in the VAFA umpiring scene". "It is a shock to everyone to lose such a young, vibrant person in these tragic circumstances," VAFA chief executive Jason Reddick said. "On behalf of the entire VAFA community, we send our deepest condolences to Ben's parents, Tracey and Jace, who is also a much-loved figure around community footy, plus Ben's brothers Cooper and Zach, along with all who knew and loved Ben.

Ben showed much promise, being selected to umpire the Premier Men's Reserves Grand Final – a significant achievement in his first year with us," Evans said. "I was fortunate enough to have umpired with Ben through the year and found him to be talented and passionate, with a bright future ahead of him." A gameday tribute will be paid to Ben in the opening round of next year's VAFA season. Counselling support is being provided to the association's umpires. Cricket community reels as floral tribute grows Flowers, cricket bats and a Gatorade bottle have been left at the nets by mourners, after Ben's death was confirmed this morning by the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club. "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 club said in a post on Facebook. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family - Jace, Tracey, Cooper (and) Zach, his extended family, his friends and to all of those who knew Ben and the joy that he brought." The club asked that Ben's family's privacy be respected, and passed on their thanks to the police, Ambulance Victoria, Monash Children's Hospital, and all who assisted when Ben was injured. Cricket Victoria chief executive Nick Cummins said he was "absolutely devastated" for Ben's family. "Days like today remind you of how closely connected the cricket community is," Cummins said. "It's not a great way to find out just how much cricket means to people and just how much a young cricketer meant to so many Victorians. "We're absolutely devastated on behalf of the family, on behalf of the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club and more broadly the Victorian cricket community. "We're doing everything we can to not just support the family of young Ben but also those at the club, and Ben played for a number of clubs, to ensure that they have the counselling and support not just for today but well into the future. "This is something that will stay with our cricketing community for some time." Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said the situation was heartbreaking for the family and the wider cricket community. "There are some days where your heart is broken and today is one of them," Baird said. "The tragic circumstances of Ben at Ferntree Gully are circumstances that are going to be felt across the country. "Cricket is a sport that brings people together, communities together. "It's also one that feels very deeply in incidents such as we've seen. "It's hard to put words on it, what we want to say is we're doing everything we can to support the family, the club and all those impacted by this tragic news. "Clearly there are things we have to learn from this, but right now we're concerned about the family and trying to support them in every way."