The parents of Ben Austin, the 17-year-old cricketer who died after being struck in the neck during a training session in Melbourne's east, have offered their support to the teammate who threw the ball. Jace and Tracey Austin, speaking publicly for the first time, said they hold no blame toward the boy involved in what they describe as a 'pure accident'.
Ben was batting in the practice nets at Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully in late October when a ball thrown by a teammate using a 'cricket thrower' training tool struck him in the neck. He was rushed to Monash Children's Hospital but died two days later on October 30. A medical examiner's report found the cause of death was an intracranial haemorrhage from a traumatic injury to the left side of his neck.
'Cricket wasn't at fault here … it was just a pure accident. It really was,' Jace Austin told 7.30. He recalled arriving at the nets after a call from his brother-in-law and knowing immediately that his son was gone. 'I knew straight away that he wasn't there. I knew he'd gone straight away.'
Tracey Austin said she clung to hope while Ben was on life support, but doctors eventually told them there was nothing more they could do. The couple expressed gratitude for the time they spent with Ben in hospital, playing his favorite songs and stroking his hair. 'It was just beautiful just to have that chance just to be with him and it was very special,' Tracey said.
At their Mulgrave home, Tracey visits Ben's room every morning, saying good morning and reflecting on his life. Ben, born on October 10, 2008, was considered a 'miracle baby' after his mother was told she might not be able to have children following a car accident. He played cricket for three teams, Australian rules football, and was a promising boundary umpire.
