Last Updated 9th Dec,2020 7:47PM
Ged Stokes was in New Zealand with his wife at the time of his passing away
England all-rounder Ben Stokes’ father has passed away after fighting a battle with brain cancer. He was diagnosed with the illness back in January earlier this year and was serious for close to five weeks. He was admitted in a hospital in Johannesburg then and was discharged later. Ged was at his home in Christchurch, New Zealand for the last few months where he passed away on Tuesday.
Ben Stokes unfortunately wasn’t with his family during this tough time. He was rested from the ODI series against South Africa which was eventually cancelled due to COVID-19 cases in both the camps.
But with quarantine protocols and all, the all-rounder might not have got time to reach in time to be with his father.
Stokes had also cut short his stay with the team during the home season earlier this year and had flown to New Zealand to be with his father.
He also reached UAE late to participate in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL)
for the same reason. The all-rounder used to dedicate every match-winning knock from him with a heart-warming gesture.
Ged Stokes’ Rugby club released the statement
The news of Ben Stokes’ father passing away was revealed by Ged’s former Rugby Club Workington Town for whom he played and coached. The club stated that Ged will be missed badly.
“It is with great sadness that we learn our former player and coach Ged Stokes has passed away. Ged is written into the rich fabric of Town history and will be greatly missed. Ged still has many,
many friends here in West Cumbria and we send our thoughts to them too,” the statement read according to Mirror.
Ben Stokes was pretty close to his father as while leaving to play for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, he had stated that it was tough for him to bid adieu to Ged. “Saying goodbye to my dad, my mum and my brother in Christchurch was tough.
It has been a difficult time for us as a family,
but we’ve pulled together and supported each other as best we can.
“And I was able to get on the plane with my parents’ love and blessing after we reached the decision, for me to get back playing, as a family with no external influences,”
he had wrote in his column for Mirror then.
