Coroner says no one to blame for cricketer Phillip Hughes’ tragic bouncer death
Australian died in November 2014 after being hit on the back of the neck by a fast ball
A “minuscule misjudgement” by Australian batsman Phillip Hughes when facing a bouncer led to his death, a coroner ruled Friday, saying neither the bowler nor anyone else was to blame for the tragedy.
Hughes, who played 26 tests, died from bleeding on the brain in November 2014 after being hit on the neck by a rising ball from Sean Abbott while batting in a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The death of the popular 25-year-old, who had risen through the ranks to play for his country, stunned Australia and the world cricket community, sparking an outpouring of grief.
“A minuscule misjudgement or a slight error of execution caused him to miss the ball which crashed into his neck with fatal consequences,” said New South Wales coroner Michael Barnes in long-awaited findings.
“There was no suggestion the ball was bowled with malicious intent. Neither the bowler nor anyone else was to blame for the tragic outcome.”
Barnes added that his death would not have been prevented even if he was wearing more modern head protection, and that a quicker medical response would also have made no difference to the “unsurvivable” injuries.