Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died Thursday from a ''catastrophic'' injury to his head, two days after being struck by a delivery during a match.
Australia captain Michael Clarke, trying to compose himself several times, read a brief statement on behalf of Hughes' parents, brother and sister at a news conference at St. Vincent's Hospital that was broadcast live around Australia.
''We're devastated by the loss of our much-loved son and brother Phillip. Cricket was Phillip's life, and we as a family shared that love of the game with him ... We love you,'' Clarke read, holding back tears before leaving the room.
Hughes was wearing a helmet Tuesday when he was hit after attempting to hook a short-pitch ball from New South Wales fast bowler Sean Abbott.
Dr. Tony Grabs, a surgeon and director of trauma services who treated Hughes at St. Vincent's, said the 25-year-old cricketer had died from a rare injury - there have been only 100 documented cases of vertebral artery dissection - which resulted in severe bleeding on his brain.
''We did a CAT scan of the head to determine what we could do,'' Grabs said. ''This occurred very early and it was recognized we had to make an intervention to help get the pressure down in the brain. He had extensive surgery to remove some of the skull from around his brain to help allow the brain to expand so it wasn't compressed.''
Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said Hughes' recovery did not go as hoped.
''Over a period of the first 24 to 48 hours he did not make very much improvement and unfortunately, as a consequence of the injury, he died,'' Brukner said.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Hughes was immensely talented and dearly loved: ''Without doubt, he was a rising star whose best cricket was still ahead of him.''
