Sydney: Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died in hospital on Thursday, two days after the international batsman was struck on the head by a ball during a domestic match.
Governing body Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed the 25-year-old had lost his fight for life, casting a pall over the cricket-mad nation who are co-hosting the World Cup early next year.
"We are extremely sad to announce that Phillip Hughes has passed away at the age of 25," CA said on its Twitter feed.
"Our thoughts go out to Phillip's family, friends, and the entire cricket community on this incredibly sad day.
RIP you little champ, we are all going to miss you ! Love, prayers to all the Hughes family xxxx— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) November 27, 2014
"He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his family and close friends.
"As a cricket community, we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillips family and friends at this incredibly sad time."
Cricket Australia will conduct a news conference at the St Vincent's hospital in Sydney, where Hughes was being treated, at 5pm. Hughes, who played in 26 tests and 25 one-day internationals for Australia, had spent a second night at the hospital in an induced coma after having emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
He was struck on the head by a ball at the Sydney Cricket Ground when batting for South Australia, a devastating blow that experts compared to the trauma suffered by victims of a car crash.
News of Hughes's death brought a fresh wave of tributes on social media, with past and present players conveying their shock and grief.
Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, coach Darren Lehmann and Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene were among those who tweeted.
No no no no no. RIP Phillip Hughes— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) November 27, 2014
'Shocking aberration'
Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott described Hughes as a "a young man living out his dreams".
"His death is a very sad day for cricket and a heartbreaking day for his family,' Abbott said in a statement.
"What happened has touched millions of Australians.
"For a young life to be cut short playing our national game seems a shocking aberration."
Just heard the worst news possible..our thoughts & prayers are with Phil, his family & friends. RIP Phil Hughes!!— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) November 27, 2014
The tragic announcement followed calls by former players for the Australian team to abandon the first test of the four-match series against India next week.
Questions about the response time of ambulances dispatched to the stadium have also been raised.
The head of New South Wales Ambulance was to be hauled before the state health minister Jillian Skinner on Thursday after the ambulance authority issued conflicting statements about their response times.
The arrival of the first ambulance took 15 minutes, NSW Ambulance clarified in a statement on Wednesday.
The state's median response time for the highest priority "life-threatening cases" was just under eight minutes in 2013-14, according the authority's statistics.
Dr Peter Larkins, a leading sports physician, told Reuters: "Time is of the essence when your brain has suffered trauma."
