The parents of Ben Austin, a 17-year-old cricketer who died after being struck in the neck during training, have spoken publicly for the first time, offering support to the teammate who threw the fatal ball. Ben died on October 30 after an accident at Wally Tew Reserve in Ferntree Gully, Melbourne.
In an exclusive interview, father Jace Austin said the incident was a 'pure accident' and that cricket was not at fault. 'It wasn't your fault,' he said, addressing the other boy involved. The ball was delivered using a 'cricket thrower' training tool, commonly used in clubs across Australia.
Ben was batting in the practice nets when he was struck in the neck. He was rushed to Monash Children's Hospital but died two days later. A medical examiner's report attributed his death to an intracranial haemorrhage from a traumatic neck injury.
Jace recalled arriving at the nets and knowing immediately that his son was gone. 'I knew straight away that he wasn't there,' he said. Despite the tragedy, the family is grateful for the time they spent with Ben on life support, playing his favourite songs and stroking his hair.
Mother Tracey Austin described Ben as a 'miracle baby', born after she was told she might not be able to have children following a car accident. Ben played cricket for three teams, Australian rules football, and was a boundary umpire. Tracey now visits his room daily, saying 'good morning' and reflecting on his life.
