A teenage cricketer, Ben Austin, has died after being struck in the neck by a ball during a routine net session at Ferntree Gully Cricket Club in Melbourne.

Austin, a beloved member of multiple local cricket and football clubs, was training at Wally Tew Reserve on Tuesday when the incident occurred.

“He was the shining light in the lives of our family and friends,” his devastated father, Jace Austin, said in a statement.

“This tragedy has taken Ben from us, but we find some comfort that he was doing something he did for so many summers — going down to the nets with mates to play cricket. He loved cricket and it was one of the joys of his life.”

Ben Austin was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident, but not a neck protector – a device made mandatory in elite Australian cricket only last year. Cricket Victoria has confirmed the details of the accident and said the incident had deeply affected everyone involved.

“We would also like to support his teammate who was bowling in the nets — this accident has impacted two young men and our thoughts are with him and his family as well,” Mr Austin added.

The Ferntree Gully Cricket Club expressed heartbreak over the loss. “The club’s thoughts are with Ben’s family, his extended family and to all those who knew Ben and the joy he brought into their lives,” said club president Lee Thompson. “You’ll always be a Gully boy, Benny, our beautiful, respectful boy.”

The Cricket Australia (CA) chair, Mike Baird, called the teenager’s death ‘a moment of national heartbreak.’

“There are some days when your heart is broken, and today is one of them,” he said. “Cricket is a sport that brings people together and brings communities together. It’s also one that feels very deeply. Clearly, there are things we have to learn from this. But right now we are concerned about the family and trying to support them in every way,” said Mike Baird.

Kevin Pietersen took to social media to send his condolences to Ben’s family. Horrific news of a 17-year-old boy who was struck by a cricket ball in the nets yesterday in Melbourne and sadly passed away. Thoughts with all his family and friends! Cricket family,’ said Kevin Pietersen.