Even as the cricket world and Australia in particular was mourning young cricketer Phillip Hughes’ death, after he was struck by a bouncer in a Sheffield Shield match, came the news that an Israeli umpire has been killed after being struck in the face in a league game in the Israeli city of Ashdod, just south of Tel Aviv.

According to reports, during the league game in Ashdod, after the ball was hit by the batsman, it ricocheted off the stumps and struck the umpire, Hillel Awasker. Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted medics who tried to resuscitate Awasker as saying that he suffered a heart attack after being hit by the ball. Awasker was taken to hospital in a critical condition, and medics were unable to revive him. Awasker, 55, was a former captain of the Israel team. Awasker held a degree in Business Administration, and was married with two daughters.