Australia batsman Phil Hughes fighting for life after being hit in the head by cricket ball

Popular test cricketer was wearing a helmet when he was struck suffering life-threatening injuries
Phil Hughes on the ground surrounded by team mates immediately after he was hit
Isobelle Gidley25 November 2014

Australian cricket star Phil Hughes was fighting for his life after being struck on the head by a ball while batting.

In shocking scenes, the batsman, who was wearing a helmet, collapsed on the pitch in Sydney and stopped breathing after being hit by the bouncer bowled by paceman Sean Abbott.

Hughes, who was on 63 runs from 161 balls, shuffled a few steps away from the wicket before putting his hands on his knees and crashing to the ground face first just seconds after impact.

The 25-year-old was placed in an induced coma following emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital.

Ambulances at the scene two days ago when the cricketer was rushed to hospital

His family released a statement saying “the outcome of that surgery is unlikely to be known for the next 24 to 48 hours.”

The shocking incident has raised safety fears for the game as the helmet failed to protect him, with fans and commentators taking to social media saying it shows the sport can still be dangerous.

England bowler Stuart Broad today led calls for a speedy recovery as the cricketing world rallied round the batsman, who has played 26 Test matches for Australia and scored three Test centuries.

He stood for a short while before collapsing after he was struck

Broad posted on Twitter: “Awful news about Phil Hughes. Fight hard, everyone’s thoughts are with you and your family.”

Wicket-keeper Matt Prior wrote: “What horrible news to wake up to! Thoughts and prayers with #PhilHughes and his family! #staystrong”

The South Australia batsman was hit by the New South Wales bowler in the Sheffield Shield match as he competed for a recall to represent his country in the first Test against India next week.

Viewers were in shock as clearly distressed players and umpires waved for help and an air ambulance was called. He was stretchered off and arrived at hospital by ambulance where scans were carried out before going into the operating theatre.

St Vincent’s Hospital spokesman David Faktor said the operation took less than an hour, adding: “He’s in the best of hands, he has loved ones here.

“He’s undergoing diagnostic scans at the moment and then following that a decision will be made to either go to surgery or go to intensive care.”

An air ambulance was dispatched to treat the batsman after he was struck

New South Wales bowler Trent Copeland, who was watching at the ground, spoke of the “frightening moment” before the match was abandoned while South Australia were on 2-136.

He said: “Immediately you could tell that something was wrong. The players around him were freaking out…it seems like he’s having a bit of trouble breathing.”

The South Australian Cricket Association and Cricket Australia said their “thoughts and prayers” were with Hughes and his family.

Fighting for his life: Batsman Phil Hughes at the crease for Australia

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said: “He’s a really popular guy, not just from Australia but from around the world.”

Such serious incidents are rare in cricket but it could still raise safety concerns. In 1975 England bowler Peter Lever floored New Zealander Ewen Chatfield with a bouncer that hit him on the temple and knocked him unconscious.

More recently within the last decade, Australian Justin Langer was knocked out by a bouncer from Makhaya Ntini during his hundredth test match.

Other deaths have occurred in the field. Indian cricketer Raman Lamba died in 1998 when a cricket ball hit his head in a club match in Dhaka while fielding, and at amateur level pensioner David Wilcockson, 71, died at a ground in Cranleigh, Surrey, while bowling after a batman’s shot struck him on the head.

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