‘Beautiful boy’: Heartbreak as Ben Austin, 17, laid to rest in Melbourne

Hundreds have gathered to say farewell to Ben Austin, the 17-year-old who died after being hit by a cricket ball in Melbourne last month.

Ben was warming up in the nets before a match in Ferntree Gully on October 28 when he was hit in the neck by the ball.

He was treated at the scene before being rushed to Monash Medical Centre in a critical condition and placed on life support. Tragically, he could not be saved.

On Thursday, Ben’s loved ones gathered at the Junction Oval in St Kilda, the home of Cricket Victoria, to say their final goodbyes to the beloved teen.

An avid sports lover, Ben’s death sparked an outpouring of love and tributes from the cricket and AFL world.

A bouquet of white roses sat atop a Collingwood casket and soft white roses spelling out his name nestled below.

The Collingwood Premiership Cup was placed next to a photo of the teenager, a signed Collingwood guernsey draped underneath.

Next to the table stood a cricket bat and a Sherrin – symbols of a sport-obsessed young man whose life was tragically cut sort.

Dressed in club guernseys, scarfs and bright colours, attendees sat in the stadium seats as rain softly pattered in the background, while his loved ones shared their favourite memories of the teenager.

Ben’s “Poppy” David Austin said he teen’s death was a “sad, tragic accident” with “no one to blame”.

“To have an outstanding young man, a ripper young man taken so young,” he said.

“It makes no sense. It’s not fair. It’s not right. Sometimes life sucks.”

Standing under the grey Melbourne skies, Ben’s grandfather said the teenager always had a smile on his face and had big plans for the future.

He told his grandfather he had hopes of graduating high school and heading to university, where he would become a PE teacher.

“Benny, Benny, Benny, my No.1 main man,” his grandfather said as rain pummelled the oval.

“Poppy loves you with all his heart.”

Ben’s father Jace choked back tears as he shared his favourite memories with his son.

Incredibly close with the teenager, Mr Austin recalled taking countless trips across the country to watch cricket and AFL games.

“To the world, you were just one, but to us you were our entire world, Benny,” he said.

The sun broke through the clouds and began to shine as Mr Austin stood at the lectern.

“Most people count their years, but you made your years count,” he continued.

“Thanks for choosing Mum and me to come on your tour. What a tour it was.

“This may be your final innings here, but I truly believe you’re starting a brilliant new one.”

Ben’s cricket coach told the crowd that he was bowled over by the teenager’s superior sporting skills.

While he said he wasn’t supposed to have a “favourite” player, he confessed Ben was always his No.1.

“I will be trying to make you proud every day,” he said.

“Coaches aren’t meant to have favourites, but you were mine, BA.”

He said Ben’s kindness was unmatched, often sharing his own cricket kit with others who didn’t have their own.

“That’s who Benny was. Anything for anyone at any time,” he said. “A heart of gold.”

As the memorial service drew to a close, guests were asked to stand and sing the Collingwood anthem in Ben’s honour.

His father held back tears as they clapped through the song, his voice breaking as he paid farewell to his beloved son.

Friends and family stood in silence as Ben’s favourite song You Get What You Give by the New Radicals echoed across the oval.

His close friends, dressed in Collingwood scarfs, embraced as the casket was slowly ushered from the oval to a private ceremony.