Ben Austin, 17, killed in Melbourne cricket training ‘misadventure’: Coroner

A coroner probing the cricket training death of a 17-year-old sportsman has revealed he does not plan to make any adverse findings about the tragic incident.

Ben Austin died in October last year after he was struck in the neck by a cricket ball while practising batting ahead of a T20 match.

He was rushed to hospital and died after doctors found the strike caused a ruptured artery and intracranial haemorrhage, leaving Ben brain dead.

Ben’s parents Jace and Tacey Austin attended the Coroners Court in Melbourne on Friday in the lead-up to the one-year anniversary of their son’s death, as Coroner Simon McGregor addressed the draft findings of his investigation.

Mr McGregor said the probe had found Ben’s death was a “misadventure” by well-meaning young people correctly using cricket equipment.

Reading the draft findings, counsel assisting the coroner Nicholas Ngai said Ben was a promising young sportsman who enjoyed cricket, football and long distance running.

The eldest of three siblings, Ben was fit, healthy, had a great sense of humour and aspired to be a boundary umpire.

About 4.40pm on October 28, Ben and two teammates were in the nets at Wally Tew Reserve to warm up, with Ben taking the bat and another boy using a side-arm thrower.

A ball came off short and struck Ben in the neck, with the teenager then lying down and taking off his helmet.

Mr Nagai said Ben’s teammate initially believed he was mucking around but quickly raised the alarm.

The team’s coach began CPR and paramedics arrived at 4.49pm, rushing Ben to the Monash Children’s Hospital where he later died.

Mr McGregor said the incident that led to Ben’s death was “very rare”, with only one or two other known occurrences in the past 12 years.

The coroner thanked Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria for their assistance in the almost year-long investigation and said their efforts had “given me the confidence that the administration of the sport is considering these risks”.

He said there would be no recommendations or comments in his findings about broader change needed for the sport or equipment issues.