Australian batsman Phillip Hughes passed away Thursday after suffering a fractured skull and catastrophic bleeding in his brain.
“It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time ago Phillip Hughes passed away,” Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said in a statement.”He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday,” added Brukner.
“He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his family and close friends.”
“As a cricket community we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillip’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time.”
Reports said shattered players maintained a vigil at his hospital bedside.
Hughes, who was due to celebrate his 26th birthday this weekend, was kept in intensive care in an induced coma after surgery.
He was felled by a Sean Abbott bouncer during a Sheffield Shield game between South Australia and New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
Hughes injuries, despite wearing a helmet, sent shockwaves through the cricketing world.
Test stars Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith are among a stream of personalities from the sport who had visited Hughes’ bedside.
Australia captain Michael Clarke had maintained a constant presence at his close friend’s side at St Vincent’s Hospital since the freak incident.
Sydney Cricket Ground officials said a call was made six minutes after the batsman crumpled to the ground at 2.23pm, but the ambulance did not arrive until 2.52pm. A helicopter and another ambulance were also dispatched.
While waiting, Hughes was given CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by NSW team doctor John Orchard before being rushed to hospital for scans and surgery.
The Sydney Cricket Trust had earlier defended its handling of the incident.
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