Tragedy at Kempton

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PNkt

PNkt

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Jul 25, 2011
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An update on what happened at Kempton from the Racing Post. Be warned it may be a distressing read for some.

Palmer groom recounts how he and doctors battled to save Dooley's life
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Groom Ken Dooley was found lying in entrance to stable yard
Alan Crowhurst
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By Jon LeesUPDATED 4:59PM, OCT 15 2017

The travelling head lad for Hugo Palmer on Sunday described the efforts to save Ken Dooley after he found him lying on the ground having suffered what he believed was a kick in the face.

Pete McCulloch assisted doctors on course by giving CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] to Amanda Perrett's groom, who tragically died of his injuries before he could be taken to hospital.

"We had three runners last night and shortly after my last runner in the 8.15, Escobar, I was going back to the stable yard to wash him down," recalled McCulloch.

"As I went back to my locker for a scraper around 8.25 I noticed Ken laying down in the entrance to the stable yard.

"Stuart from the BHA security team was there as well. The first thing we did was clear his airway because he was almost choking. It was very apparent he'd had a serious blow to the face.

"It took a few minutes for medical attention to arrive, and when it did BHA doctor Lucy Free and the on-course doctor instructed me to start CPR immediately.

"From finding Ken till he was pronounced dead was 40 minutes. The defibrillator was used when the paramedics arrived but it wasn't used early enough in my opinion – we didn't have one."

McCulloch said he wants to campaign for the mandatory introduction of defibrillators at all racecourse stable yards and that he used CPR in the summer when a friend survived a cardiac arrest on a golf course.

"I'm going to campaign for a defibrillator to be on every racecourse from now on," he said. "It doesn't cost a lot of money. I think we need a defibrillator in every stable manager's office and every stable manager knowing how to use one."

He added: "Ken was a regular figure at the races. I knew him to say hello to. I'm good friends with Amanda's travelling head lad Allan Mcfarlane, who was there as well.

"I have no idea how Ken managed to get to where we found him. It was pretty apparent he got kicked in the stable and somehow made it to where he was. It was at least 100 yards.

"My condolences to his family and friends."

Anyone affected by the incident can seek support through Racing Welfare. There is a 24-hour helpline on 0800 6300 443and online live chat is also available at www.support.racingwelfare.co.uk.
 
That surprises me too Princess. Years ago, when Amanda was jumping at Wales & The West show, my (late) father-in-law had a heart attack there and the paramedics were there almost immediately with a defibrillator. He would have been dead had they not been on hand with the defibrillator so quickly.

40 minutes <yikes>. Where were the paramedics?
 
Ron said:
That surprises me too Princess. Years ago, when Amanda was jumping at Wales & The West show, my (late) father-in-law had a heart attack there and the paramedics were there almost immediately with a defibrillator. He would have been dead had they not been on hand with the defibrillator so quickly.

40 minutes <yikes>. Where were the paramedics?
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I think you are misreading the facts Ron. From finding him to pronouncing him dead at the scene was 40 minutes. The racecourse ambulance and staff were there in minutes.
What a strong man he must have been to have walked 100 yards having been kicked in the face! Very very sad.
 
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stick said:
I think you are misreading the facts Ron. From finding him to pronouncing him dead at the scene was 40 minutes. The racecourse ambulance and staff were there in minutes.
What a strong man he must have been to have walked 100 yards having been kicked in the face! Very very sad.
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I did wonder if I had misunderstood. It's just that it said:
"It took a few minutes for medical attention to arrive, and when it did BHA doctor Lucy Free and the on-course doctor instructed me to start CPR immediately." and "The defibrillator was used when the paramedics arrived but it wasn't used early enough in my opinion – we didn't have one." I took that to mean that the defibrillator was not used straight away.

As you say stick, he must have been strong to have walked (or staggered/crawled) 100 yards before he collapsed. That's survival for you. Amazing really that there wasn't anyone around that would have seen he was in trouble before he collapsed. Very tragic and I really feel for his family.
 
Absolutely tragic.

I sincerely hope that the campaign for defibrillators results in all racecourses. As the article says they are not expensive and the training to use them is apparently fairly straightforward too
 
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We'll have to wait for the coroner's report but is it certain an AED would have saved his life anyway? A kick in the head from a horse would surely have caused significant brain damage or other internal injuries which may have threatened his life anyway? Seems to me the media have jumped on the AED stuff but we don't even know cause of death yet.

Either way a tragic accident and condolences to his friends and relatives.
 
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Just to put into perspective how dangerous dealing with horses is. Only yesterday my friend was clipping a horse she had done numerous times received a kick in the face resulting in a fractured cheek bone. She was lucky but shaken up. You have to be on your guard at all times around horses and these stable staff do an amazing job for very little reward but for most it's their life.
 
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floridaspearl said:
Just to put into perspective how dangerous dealing with horses is. Only yesterday my friend was clipping a horse she had done numerous times received a kick in the face resulting in a fractured cheek bone. She was lucky but shaken up. You have to be on your guard at all times around horses and these stable staff do an amazing job for very little reward but for most it's their life.
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Yes. A friend of ours long ago who owned a riding school got her face re-arranged by a horse once while picking out its feet. Again a horse she knew and had done many times. Subsequently she was thrown off a young horse into a wall, leaving her permanently paralysed from the neck down. Also a rider that Amanda knew well when they competed against each other internationally was thrown off a young horse and killed. We have had 2 heart stopping moments with Amanda on young horses but I won't bore you with the details, other than she was injured and shaken but could have easily been killed outright
 
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