Coroner finds no malicious intent in death of cricketer Phil Hughes

A NSW Coroner has found that cricketer Phillip Hughes' death from a fatal bouncer would not have been prevented even if he was wearing the most modern protection available at the time.

Hughes died after being struck in the neck by a cricket ball in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 25th November 2014.

The injury caused a haemorrhage in his brain and he died two days later.

Releasing his report on Hughes’ death today, NSW Coroner Michael Barnes said Hughes was targeted by short-pitched bowling, but there was no suggestion the ball was bowled with any malicious intent.

Speaking of Sean Abbott, who was behind the fatal delivery, Coroner Barnes stated “neither the bowler nor anyone else was to blame for the tragic outcome.

"I conclude no failure to enforce the laws of the game contributed to his death.

"He could have avoided the ball by ducking under it but such was his competitiveness, he sought to make runs from it.

"(This was)minuscule misjudgement or a slight error of execution caused him to miss the ball which crashed into his neck with fatal consequences."

Coroner Barnes said Hughes was not wearing the most up-to-date helmet, and game rules then did not require him to "however, had he even been wearing that most modern equipment then available, it would not have protected the area of his body where the fatal blow landed."

Since Hughes death the rules and the equipment have changed.

Having heard evidence on Hughes’ death from Cricket Australia, opposing players, family and the NSW ambulance service, Coroner Barnes went on to state “none of those on the field at the time of the incident knew how to summon medical assistance onto the field.

"Although it was immediately obvious that Phillip was seriously injured, it wasn't clear whose responsibility it was to call an ambulance.

"An ambulance was not called for over six minutes after he was hit."

Coroner Barnes has made recommendations to reform rules governing unfair bowling, protective equipment for batsmen, emergency response procedures, and the role of umpires in emergencies.

He was unconvinced by evidence given by a cricket player, that while sledging was common, it had not occurred at Hughes' last cricket game, adding “the repeated denials of any sledging having occurred in the game in which Phillip Hughes was injured were difficult to accept.

"Members of Phillip's family considered that the spirit of the game had been disrespected by an opposition bowler who they alleged made threats of violence towards Phillip or his batting partner.

"That was denied by the bowler in question and the batting partner but there was other evidence contradicting those denials and supporting the family's claims."

The Coroner ended his findings by addressing the tragic loss for the Hughes family, who walked out on the final day of the inquiry in October.

25th October 2016 - CRICKET AUSTRALIA TO USE HELMET SENSORS TO DETECT IMPACTS

30th August 2016 - AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES GROUPS JOIN FORCES TO TACKLE CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT

18th August 2016 - CORONER FINDS 2014 WATERMARC DROWNING DEATH WAS PREVENTABLE

14th May 2015 - CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONFIRM INDEPENDENT REVIEW INTO DEATH OF PHILLIP HUGHES

28th November 2014 - AUSTRALIAN CRICKET MOURNS PASSING OF PHILLIP HUGHES 

30th September 2010 - RLSSA TRAINING ACADEMY TO PROMOTE AQUATIC SAFETY

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