Australian batsman Phillip Hughes died in a Sydney hospital on Thursday, two days after being struck on the head by a cricket ball during a domestic first-class match. He was 25.
Australian team doctor Peter Brukner announced the death earlier Thursday in a statement, saying Hughes never regained consciousness. The statement was issued shortly after Australian opener David Warner, one of the first players to help Hughes when he collapsed on the field, had left the hospital in tears.
Australia captain Michael Clarke read a brief statement on behalf of Hughes' parents, brother and sister at a packed news conference at St. Vincent's Hospital that was broadcast live around Australia.
"We're devastated by the loss of our much-loved son and brother Phillip. Cricket was Phillip's life, and we as a family shared that love of the game with him .... We love you," Clarke read, holding back tears before leaving the room.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Hughes was immensely talented and dearly loved: "Without doubt, he was a rising star whose best cricket was still ahead of him."
"The word tragedy gets used too often in sport, but this freak accident is real life tragedy," Sutherland said. "Just days short of his 26th birthday, Phillip has been taken away from us too soon. In these darkest hours, cricket puts its collective arms around the Hughes family."
Hughes' mother and sister were at the match when he was he was hurt, and kept vigil at the hospital. Clarke, a close friend, was among dozens of former and current teammates and stars of the game who visited the hospital to offer their support.
The death from a cerebral hemorrhage, or bleeding on the brain ? shocked and saddened people across Australia and cricket fans all over the world, and cast doubt over the first test between Australia and India due to be played in Brisbane next week
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