NSW Cricketer Phil Hughes 'Not Confirmed' To Be Alive: ABC News Deletes ‘Irresponsible’ Tweet

ABC News outraged its Twitter followers after it had posted a tweet which created uproar. The Australian broadcaster posted that it was not confirmed if cricketer Phil Hughes was alive.

The South Australia cricketer was struck on the head by a bouncer while batting in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday. He was critical when he was taken to hospital. However, ABC News' tweet that Cricket NSW "could not confirm if Phil Hughes was alive when he left the SCG" left its followers fuming. The Age reported that the tweet was branded as "disgusting," "hugely irresponsible," "stupid," "unnecessary" and "a disgrace." Twitter user Sub Rob tweeted whoever tweeted it was a disgrace. The user asked ABC to show some respect to the man and his family. He said that no one would want to read "this crap" if they knew the cricketer. Xavier Blair tweeted that it was a "disgusting tweet." Sam Defa posted that it was "Horrible journalism. Shame" BrownSquirrel wrote that the tweet was "NO help." ABC later called its tweet "insensitive" and apologised for any distress which it might have caused. The controversial tweet was withdrawn.

BBC reported that players around Hughes, who had seen the batsman hit by the bouncer coming from NSW fast bowler Sean Abbott, would be given psychological counselling. The Australian Cricketers' Association and Cricket Australia are going to work together so that the support can be arranged. According to CA Chief James Sutherland, each player who was involved in the Sydney match would receive "utmost support." ACA chief executive Alastair Nicholson said that everyone was shocked to learn of the seriousness of the incident involving Hughes. "While we have faith that he's receiving the best available treatment, the situation will impact his family, friends and those directly involved on the field," Nicholson said, "The ACA is therefore working closely with CA to arrange the appropriate counselling for those affected."

Abbott's bouncer missed Hughes' helmet and hit him on the head. According to media reports, he stopped breathing and required mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at the side of the pitch. The 25-year-old was carried off the field on a stretcher and rushed to hospital. He underwent surgery and was kept on an induced coma thereafter.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au