Club cricketer dies after ball hits chest

A club cricketer in England has died after being struck on the chest while batting. Bavalan Pathmanathan, 24, was hit while playing in division three of the British Tamil League at Long Ditton recreation grounds in Surrey on Sunday. He had received CPR at the scene and ambulances were called to the ground, including an air ambulance, but he died in hospital.

"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," said a spokesman from South East Coast Ambulance Service. "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."

Pathmanathan played for Manipay Parish Sports Club, who expressed "total shock by his death at this young age."

Surrey chief executive Richard Gould said: "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."

According to British Tamil Cricket League's website, Pathmanabhan was an old student of Hartley College in Jaffna in Sri Lanka.

The issue of player safety was brought to the forefront last year with the death of Phillip Hughes when he was struck by a bouncer. A few days later, an Israeli umpire was killed when he was struck by the ball during a league game.