Latest on his condition from Racing Post: LEADING amateur rider JT McNamara has suffered a serious neck injury after a heavy fall from Galaxy Rock in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Thursday. The 37-year-old was attended to by racecourse doctors and then taken by air ambulance to a spinal unit at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol in an induced coma. McNamara was undergoing tests on Thursday evening and Dr Adrian McGoldrick, the Irish Turf Club chief medical officer, said: "He has a serious neck injury and we're awaiting results of further tests and scans." As well as four victories at the Cheltenham Festival, McNamara has ridden 602 point-to-point winners. Twitter reports suggest he has injuries to his C3 and C4 vertebrae. He will undergo another scan in the morning.
C3 and C4 disc breaks are rare compared to other vertebrae combinations, hopefully no nerves have been damaged and he can have a successful surgery as i imagine he will need.
Latest from Racing UK: he is in a stable but serious condition. He will undergo more scans this morning and will be operated on later today.
Hard as nails these jockeys so lets hope there is still a lot of fight in him to make a full recovery...
Press release from the IJF: STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE INJURED JOCKEYS FUND & THE IRISH TURF CLUB Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Senior Medical Officer, Irish Turf Club, said at 11.45am: "We can confirm that amateur rider J T McNamara suffered two fractured vertebrae in his neck yesterday. "He is currently in theatre at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol. There will be no further news until tomorrow and we will keep everyone updated. His wife Caroline is with him." It has been agreed by Cheltenham Racecourse, the British Horseracing Authority and Jonjo O'Neill that the Injured Jockeys Fund will be responsible for the release of further information as and when appropriate.
Latest update: JT McNAMARA is reported to be in a stable condition following surgery on Friday, and remains in an induced coma at Frenchay hospital in Bristol. Leading amateur rider McNamara fractured his C3 and C4 vertebrae following a heavy fall at Cheltenham on Thursday. He was riding Galaxy Rock for Jonjo O'Neill in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase when the nine-year-old fell at the first. The rider was taken by air ambulance to Frenchay Hospital in an induced coma. A statement released by Irish Turf Club senior medical officer Adrian McGoldrick and the Injured Jockeys Fund on Saturday morning read: "We can report that following lengthy surgery yesterday JT McNamara is in a stable condition. "He remains in an induced coma at Frenchay hospital, Bristol. No further updates will be released until Tuesday 19th March and the family politely request that the media do not contact Frenchay hospital direct. They would also like to thank everyone for their kind support and best wishes for JT."
It sounds somewhat promising that he's in a stable condition I guess but it is still very worrying as to what he'll be like if/when he wakes up.
Hopefully JT will come out of the coma and be ok. Really wishing him all the best for a full recovery.
A new update: “JT McNamara remains in the Intensive Care Unit at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol. He is in a stable condition and his level of sedation is being reduced. Whilst his vertebral damage remains serious, he has not suffered a brain injury. His wife Caroline and family very much appreciate all the messages, cards and letters that have been received. There will be no further update this week.” Issued jointly by Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Irish Turf Club Senior Medical Officer and Lisa Hancock, CEO, Injured Jockeys Fund on behalf of the McNamara Family."
Another update: "JT McNamara remains in the Frenchay Hospital, Bristol. Whilst he suffered a serious neck injury resulting in paralysis, he has made progress in the last week and is in a very positive frame of mind. He is greatly appreciative of the many messages, cards and letters received and also wishes to thank the Frenchay Hospital who are looking after him so well.”
