Concerned parents are flocking to buy their kids new cricket helmets in the wake of the Phil Hughes tragedy.
Sports shops and specialist cricket outlet stores across New Zealand have reported a doubling in sales of helmets since Hughes, 25, was fatally struck in the head by a bouncer last Tuesday.
Rebel Sport has already bolstered its orders from suppliers to try and keep up with the rush.
Mark Carter, owner of Anderson & Hill Sportspower in Christchurch, sales the death of the popular Australian test player doubled weekend sales.
"People just want to protect their kids, just on the off chance that this sort of thing happens," Mr Carter said.
Rod Duke, group managing director of Briscoes Group, which owns the Rebel Sport chain, said the increase in sales was immediate, and mainly from parents of young players.
"There's been a significant interest, which is half-expected," he said.
"People are now very well aware of the dangers and are aware of what they need to be doing, which is renewing helmets or buying new helmets."
Rebel Sports sells 14 different helmets, across two brands, ranging in price from $37.49 up to $119.99.
Hughes died at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney last Thursday, two days after he was struck on the head by a cricket ball while playing in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Last week, New Zealand Cricket head of cricket Lindsay Crocker said the "horrible" Hughes incident could lead to a rule change requiring youngsters to wear helmets as soon as they start playing against a hard, leather ball.
New Zealand Cricket recommends that all players facing hard balls wear head protection.
Many districts and associations already make helmets compulsory for underage players.
Jarrod Wrigley, manager of Cricket Express in Mt Eden, said most players were already well prepared before last week's high-profile death.
"Just about every kid - we reckon about 85 per cent of them - who walks into our shop to buy kit for playing hard ball buys a helmet. It's encouraged by the clubs and coaches," he said.
Mr Wrigley hasn't witnessed a spike in helmet sales and urged parents to be realistic about the sport's level of danger.
"Yes, it's good to be safe and to be cautious, but like I've said literally 50 times in the last week, your kid won't be facing a 135km/h cricket ball doing crazy things off a grass wicket."
By Kurt Bayer of NZME News Service
