JT McNamara - 'neck injury'

convert

John Thomas McNamara suffered a "serious neck injury" in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday.

http://www.irishracing.com/news?prid=67261&headline=McNamara-suffers-serious-neck-injury&festival=Cheltenham-2013

Really shocked and sad to hear that. Fantastic jockey.

Update: he's damaged his C3 and C4 vertebrae and is set to undergo surgery this morning.

mdwexford

Yeah terrible news, fingers crossed he makes a full recovery.

Caveman1

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but are amateur jockeys looked after in the same way as the pro's when injured ?

sting60

News from radio"JT is now in surgery for neck operation on two fractured vertabre .The extent of the injury will not be known for some time but it is serious.His wife was by his bed all night as was the chief medical officer of the BHA.He was put in an induced coma on the course by the top two medical officers both sides of the Irish sea and remained in a coma going to theatre".

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Caveman1 wrote: »

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but are amateur jockeys looked after in the same way as the pro's when injured ?

JP McManus got one of his helicopters to go get his wife and fly her over to be at his bed side.

Top man, lads.

Colonel Sanders

Has undergone surgery for a serious neck injury

Fingers crossed for the man and thoughts with his family

A great amateur jockey, I'd say one of his most remembered rides was Rith Dubh in the 2002 4 miler

Redsquigy

My heart goes out to this poor jockey and his family. I too have been in exactly that position with my son (although not a riding accident) and the extent of C3-C4 injuries are absolutely catastrophic - usually the hands, fingers and all four limbs are affected - and it will take up to 18 months to know exactly what the outcome of the injuries will be. Thoughts are with them at this very traumatic time.

convert

I think a lot of people forget how much enjoyment the jockeys, whether amateur or professional, give to everyone who has even the slightest piece of interest in racing. They literally put their lives on the line every day they go to work, whether riding out or on race day, and they don't give it a second thought. If we did, I don't think we'd ever get up on a horse again!

It's such a tight community, so everyone is impacted hugely when a rider gets hurt. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this time.

Colonel Sanders

You can see it's a very emotional day for all the riders

Thought McCoy was the epitomy of the mood and it was a quite touching reaction after AFC had won

fits

Its pretty much every rider's worst nightmare. I have been thinking a lot about him all day as have many others. Fingers crossed he makes a good recovery.

As an aside, the air ambulance in the UK is an absolutely wonderful service and one many riders appreciate, especially with injuries like this.

ctrl-alt-delete

From Racing Post News Ticker

The Turf Club's chief medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick has issued an update on JT McNamara this evening. "The surgery was successful and he's still in an induced coma," he said.

Colonel Sanders

At least that's in some way positive.

largepants

I dont post much on this forum but enjoy reading. Best of luck to JT and I hope everything turns out ok for him.

3ndahalfof6

Jockeys seem to have great powers of recovery (the will to ride again) I wish him a speedy recovery.

Motivator

Fingers crossed for JT, puts everything into perspective. Everyone having a few pints tonight celebrating their winners today should appreciate just how dangerous the job these lads have. An already emotional day for all the jockeys thinking back to poor Campbell Gillies last year the news about JT made it difficult for them to really enjoy it. McCoy looked broke up today to be honest.

Hopefully he'll make a full recovery & some good news will break over the next day or 2. One thing is for certain, the McNamara's will be well looked after by JP McManus & hopefully people will begin to realise how much of a gent JP really is.

klairondavis

Get well soon JT. The level of coverage this has received shows how highly thought of he is by everyone in racing. We're all hoping for some better news in the days ahead.

brandon_flowers

http://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/everybody-hurts-for-true-friend-29135214.html

Nice article here about JT.

Get well soon JT. Here's hoping he makes a full recovery.

Huntley

Don't want to say too much too soon but mobility wise it doesn't look good. Prayers are with him.

sting60

There are not many jobs around where an ambulance follows you at work.

hucklebuck

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/21837766

Thankfully no brain injury, hopefully his spine makes a 100% recovery.

Overthelast

Out of coma

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/cheltenham-jockey-comes-out-of-coma-29146893.html

sting60

A statement has just been released by the Injured Jockeys Fund "J T Mc Namara is currently awake but will remain on a ventilation unit until he goes to the spinal unit of the Mater hospital in Dublin.We believe this the proper course to take as he will nearer to his family,As everybody knows Mr Mc Namara has very serious spinal injuries and we wish him and his family the very best in these trying times".

brandon_flowers

Have to say it doesn't look overly promising for a full recovery, there must be some type of paralysis involved due to an SCI. I wish there was but there aren't much positives to take from that statement.

It will be a long and painful time for the family. When all the media noise is gone it will only be the ones closest to him that are truly affected.

aidan24326

If they're saying he needs to remain on a ventilation unit that doesn't sound good at all. That means paralysis unfortunately. I guess we rarely stop to think of the risks involved for jump jockeys, and it's not like they earn huge money the way a top golfer or premier league soccer player would. Anyway best of luck to JT hopefully he can defy the odds and regain some mobility but it really doesn't look good.

mr.jingle

Peter Toole the young jockey that had a bad fall at Aintree was back riding out but has now officially retired from race riding and will be moving back to Ireland to trade in horses. If JT even gets to this stage id be delighted for him as the analysis so far does not look promising but hopefully it changes in the coming weeks and months

Huntley

The majority of people involved in the industry knew anyway but the family have made it public knowledge that JT is paralysed. I hope he can find something in his life that is somewhat fulfilling.

Kristopherus

Awful news to get at any stage. Very best wishes to him & his family for the future.

3ndahalfof6

Huntley wrote: »

The majority of people involved in the industry knew anyway but the family have made it public knowledge that JT is paralysed. I hope he can find something in his life that is somewhat fulfilling.

He might not sit in the saddle again, but jockeys have a great power to recover, I have a friend who got knocked in the head while riding in Down Royal, lost the power to the left side of his body,

you would not think it now looking at him, he breaks horses now, top man at it 2.

mike65

from the family

“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.”

6541

Get well soon bud..

lala88

Sad news about JT McNamara. These jockeys literally put their bodies on the line for their sport and everyone elses enjoyment

wazzer1

All the best to him and i hope he sees light for the future. My prayers are with him and his family.

aidan24326

3ndahalfof6 wrote: »

He might not sit in the saddle again, but jockeys have a great power to recover

We would all love if he did he make some sort of recovery but unfortunately bad injuries that high up in the spinal cord don't come with a good prognosis. He even needs the assistance of a ventilator to breathe. He is, to use the non-technical description, paralysed from the neck down. A nightmare scenario for himself and his family.

kryogen

Terrible outcome even though it was a strong possibility given the area of the injury, you always hope someone can beat the odds in these situations, however unlikely it is. Hopefully he and his family find something to hold onto and give them strength in this time and that they will have better days in the future. Sad day for racing.

6541

Sad news, makes one reflect on ones own worries, which are rubbish comparied to what JT has to face.

The Mig

RIP

https://twitter.com/RacingPost/status/757842096610906114

kfallon

Very sad news this morning. His ride on Rith Dubh at Cheltenham was one of the best I've seen from an amateur cos boy was he one quirky horse.

RIP

DDC1990

Shocked to hear this.

RIP JT.

Very sad news.

RIP JT.

kksaints

Real shame to hear this. Great amateur jockey. RIP.

Triboro

Sad news, may he rest in peace.

sdoc13

RIP JT. The finest amateur jockey of his generation.

Peintre Celebre

A real shame. JP may not be everyone's cup of tea but he was very good to JT and the family since the accident

mohican22

May he RIP thoughts are with his family

Johner

Really sad news, RIP JT.

Nulty

RIP John Thomas, great jockey and great man by all accounts

aw

Poignant moment of silence yesterday at the track. His colleagues stood together to remember him. A truly tragic story. He and his family went through so much. May he RIP.