Sri Lankan origin cricketer Bavalan Pathmanathan dies after being hit by ball in Long Ditton

Admin | 07 Jul, 2015 11:47AM | Leave a comment
A young cricketer Bavalan Pathmanatha, a student of Hartley College, Jaffna, Sri Lanka has tragically died after being hit in the chest by a ball in Long Ditton on Sunday (July 5).

Bavalan Pathmanathan, 24, was struck by the ball while batting for Hersham-based Manipay Parish Sports Club at Long Ditton Recreation Ground during a Division Three match of the British Tamils Cricket League (BTCL).

A spokesman from South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed they attended at around 7pm.

He said: "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.

"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 into Kingston Hospital in a life-threatening condition."

Bavalan subsequently passed away with the cause of death believed to be heart failure.

A statement from Manipay Parish SC 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."

Surrey County Cricket Club said it shared the sadness caused by the "tragic incident" and the shock felt within the county's cricket community and the Tamil community cricket family.

Surrey CCC 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.”

The BTCL, of which Manipay Parish SC is a member club, expressed its deepest condolences to Bavalan's family and friends.

Source: www.getsurrey.co.uk