London: In a shocking case, a British Tamil batsman died after being struck in the chest by a ball while playing in a residential suburb in Surrey over the weekend.
The deceased, Sri Lankan-born Bavalan Pathmanathan was playing for Manipay Parish Sports Club (UK) in division three of the British Tamil League on Sunday at Long Ditton recreation grounds, according to a report in ‘The Guardian’.
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South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed they had attended the ground at around 7 pm. “We were called to Windmill Lane, Long Ditton, to reports that a man in his 20s had been injured by a cricket ball striking his chest,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.
“We sent an ambulance and two cars to the scene along with an ambulance from the London Ambulance Service and the air ambulance also. The man was treated at the scene and then taken to Kingston hospital in a life-threatening condition,” he added.
Pathmanathan was given CPR and treated by ambulance and doctors but the 24-year-old subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
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A statement from Manipay Parish SC on their Facebook page said: “Our cricketer Bavalan Pathmanathan is no longer with us. He was hit by the ball on his chest while batting. Our club was totally shocked by his death at this young age.”
The Surrey chief executive Richard Gould as quoted in the report saying, “Everyone at the club has been deeply saddened to learn of Bavalan’s death and would like to extend their sympathies to his family, friends and everyone who knew him from within the community of cricket.”
“Batsmen’s safety on the field of play has been a topic of conversation in recent months following the death of former Australia international Phillip Hughes, who was struck in the neck by a bouncer last November,” he added.
