An amateur Irish jockey was in a coma on Friday after sustaining a serious neck injury during a fall at the Cheltenham Festival.
JT McNamara, 37, was injured when his horse Galaxy Rock fell at the first fence of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
The Limerick jockey was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, holding up racing for 30 minutes.
He was to receive tests overnight, explained Adrian McGoldrick, chief medical officer for the Irish Turf Club.
“JT has suffered a serious neck injury,” he said.
“He is being looked after at the regional spinal unit but as yet he is still waiting for a scan.”
McNamara was placed into an induced coma as he encountered breathing difficulties following the fall.
Fellow jockey AP McCoy told BBC Radio 5 live “:We just hope he’s going to be OK.
“It’s a dangerous sport and it’s a sight that you see that unfortunately crops up; we’re very lucky we have excellent medical care,” he added.
Jockey in coma after Cheltenham fall
