A 12-year-old girl died on Tuesday after being struck by a ball at a school in Basildon, Essex, the East of England Ambulance Service said.
Ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: "First and foremost our thoughts are firmly with the girls family at this tragic time."
Gary added: "The ambulance crew arrived at the scene within one minute and found the girl in a critical condition. Following rapid treatment and stabilisation by the ambulance crews, she was taken to an awaiting medical team at Basildon Hospital where sadly she died shortly after."