79-year-old grandmother dies after being hit by ball during a game

Fans watch a match at the LA Dodgers stadium [Courtesy]

A 79-year-old grandmother died after being hit on the head by a ball during a Major League Baseball clash between the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres last year.

According to BBC Sport, Linda Goldbloom was celebrating her 59^th wedding Anniversary as well as her birthday on 25^th August last year at the Dodger Stadium.

The tragic incident occurred in the ninth inning when San Diego outfielder Franmil Reyes fouled one off to the first-base side of home plate, slicing the ball which saw it go past the protective netting, hitting Linda on the head.

A coroner’s reports on Monday, February 4 revealed Linda died four days later after undergoing emergency brain surgery. She is said to have been unresponsive for three days after the procedure.

“It’s heartbreaking for all of us. It was pretty rough. This was definitely not a ball that could be dodged or caught,” Jana Brody, Goldbloom’s daughter told Washington Post.

Linda succumbed to acute intracranial haemorrhage due to a history of blunt force trauma.

The Dodgers on Monday issued a statement in response to the news:

“Mr and Mrs Goldbloom were great Dodgers fans who regularly attended games. We were deeply saddened by this tragic accident and the passing of Mrs Goldbloom. The matter has been resolved between the Dodgers and the Goldbloom family. We cannot comment further on this matter," read a statement by the Dodgers.

"I'd love to see the netting extended vertically, and we know it doesn't block the view," said Brody.