Phillip Hughes Video - The freak accident that led to the death of a star Australian batsman during a domestic match in Sydney has been captured on video. The death, as well as the Phillip Hughes video, stunned the cricket world.
Hughes died at the tender age of 25, two days after the head injury which resulted from being struck on the top of the neck by a ball. The freak accident, captured on the Phillip Hughes video, occurred during New South Wales' first-class match against South Australia Tuesday, reports Sky News.
The death of the renowned cricket player, with the accident leading up to it captured on the Phillip Hughes video, not only shocked the cricket community but resulted in immediate concerns over helmet safety worn by players of all ages.
Hughes, batting for South Australia, was wearing a helmet when a bouncer from 22-year-old Abbott struck him on an unprotected part of his neck. Shown on the Phillip Hughes video below, he had turned his back attempting a shot during a Sheffield Shield game against New South Wales, and collapsed face first on the ground after getting struck.
Multiple reports say the impact from the hit, caught on the Phillip Hughes video, split his vertebral artery thus causing a massive bleed. The Australian player was given CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at the ground before being taken to St Vincent's Hospital.
Sydney surgeons operated on Hughes for 90 minutes, doing their best to relieve the pressure on his brain. Unfortunately, Hughes still died yesterday.
Abbott and members of the Australian national team, including Clarke, were able to visit Hughes in hospital.
His death, with the accident leading up to it captured on the Phillip Hughes video, was confirmed in a statement on Thursday, according to the BBC.
According to Australia team doctor Peter Brukner, he passed away in the hospital, where he was never able to regain consciousness.
"It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time ago Phillip Hughes passed away," Brukner informed the public. "He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday. 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," Brukner added. "Cricket Australia kindly asks that the privacy of the Hughes family, players and staff be respected."
Brukner also explained that Hughes died from "vertebral artery dissection".
He said the Hughes' artery had been compressed from the hit two days ago, as shown in the Phillip Hughes video. The compression reportedly caused the artery to split thus leading to a "massive bleed" into the brain.
Brukner said the injury was "freakish"
"Vertebral artery dissection is incredibly rare. If you look in the literature, there is only 100 cases reported. There is only one previous example caused by a cricket ball," he added.
"It's an understatement to say we're completely devastated," said Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland of the death. "The word tragedy gets used too often in sport, but this freak accident is a real life tragedy."
Australia captain Michael Clarke spoke on behalf of Phillip's family, his parents Greg and Virginia, sister Megan and brother Jason.
Clarke read out a statement at a news conference held at St Vincent's Hospital where the cricket player, who reportedly who would have turned 26 on Sunday, was treated.
"We're devastated by the loss of our much-loved son and brother, Phillip. It's been a very difficult few days," Clarke said of the tragedy caught on the Phillip Hughes video.
"We appreciate all the support we have received from family, friends, players, Cricket Australia and the general public. Cricket was Phillip's life and we as a family shared that love of the game with him. We would like to thank all the medical and nursing staff at St Vincent's Hospital and Cricket New South Wales medical staff for their great efforts with Phillip. We love you," he further read, ending the statement.
Meanwhile, the death of the 25-year-old star, as captured on the Phillip Hughes video, has sparked further discussion about player safety in cricket and the use of helmets.
"It's an incredibly safe game, but I think this will shake batsmen slightly out of what might have been complacency," according to former England captain and opening batsman Michael Atherton.
"I wore the same helmet for 10 years. I never changed it. I didn't give it much thought really. If there is that kind of complacency that I was guilty of, then I think people will be shaken out of that," he added.
Manufacturers have also been exploring other methods of making the game safer for players through cricket helmets. However, they face resistance from players and experts, who admitted that no helmets currently available would have guaranteed the safety of Hughes.
Players say some of the designs proposed by helmet manufacturers would reduce a batsman's mobility as the ball hurtles at around 90mph, as also shown in the Phillip Hughes video before his death, the Daily Mail reports.
Andrew Strauss, an ex-England captain said it is but natural that the public's response to the tragedy was to call for a massive change.
However, he added that "the protection in the game of cricket has never been better than it is today. I don't think any cricketer will go out there to bat these days worrying that his life might be on the line."
Phillip Hughes was born in Macksville, New South Wales. He made his Test debut against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2009 and reportedly became the youngest player to score two centuries in a test in only his second game for Australia. Before his death, Hughes has played 26 Test matches, 25 one-day internationals and one T20 international.
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