An apprentice jockey seriously injured in a fall at a race meeting in Galway yesterday was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin last night amid growing fears for his condition, writes Joe Humphreys.
Sean Cleary suffered severe head injuries when his mount fell in a flat race at the Ballybrit track yesterday afternoon.
He was taken to University Hospital, Galway and subsequently airlifted by the Shannon rescue helicopter to Beaumont where specialists from the hospital's head injuries unit were waiting to treat him last night.
One of the country's most promising apprentice jockeys, Cleary has ridden for a variety of top trainers and was booked for two rides at Leopardstown today. His recent wins include a victory at Ballinrobe last August on Traverse, the horse owned by television presenter Hector O'hEochagáin which was featured in the RTÉ series Only Fools Buy Horses earlier this year.
Cleary was riding the Paddy Mullins-trained two-year-old All Heart in the first race on yesterday's card, the Corrib Oil Auction Race, when the accident occurred. The horse slipped during the seven furlong contest, causing Cleary to hit the ground heavily.
Ambulance crew at the track immediately identified that the injuries were serious and took the jockey to hospital. Doctors subsequently decided to transfer him Dublin in what was said to be a move reserved only for the most serious of cases.
The helicopter was still en route to Beaumont at 9.45 p.m. yesterday. A spokesperson for the hospital said it would take some time before Mr Cleary's condition could be assessed.
The accident highlights the constant dangers faced by jockeys in the sport.
Last August, leading jump jockey Kieran Kelly died at Beaumont Hospital after sustaining serious head injuries in a fall at Kilbeggan.
In August 2002, leading claiming rider, Jimmy Mansell, incurred serious head injuries that put him on a life-support machine. He has since made a recovery but hasn't ridden again.
In April 1997, Shane Broderick was left paralysed when he took a fall from a horse at the Irish Grand National meeting at Fairyhouse. He has since taken out a permit to train horses.