A jockey who nearly died following a horrific fall has made his comeback to racing.
‘Said their goodbyes’
Brian Toomey was given a three percent chance of surviving after suffering serious head injuries when his horse fell at Perth racecourse in Scotland (4 July 2013).
“My parents had said their goodbyes to me,” Brian told the Racing Post. “They’d agreed to let my organs be donated, had organised my funeral.
“I’m trying to forget how hard it must have been for them because I’ve overcome it now, and I wouldn’t ever want to be in their position.”
Road to recovery
The Limerick-born jockey had a large part of his skull removed to release the pressure on his swollen brain and was placed in an induced coma for two weeks. Brian then had a titanium plate fitted and spent five and a half months in hospital before beginning his long road to recovery.
Almost two years to the day since his accident he was racing again at Southwell Racecourse, riding the Philip Kirby-trained Kings Grey. The odds-on favourite led for much of the race, but Brian pulled him up before the home straight.
“It was the right decision to pull the horse up, he didn’t feel great and I didn’t want to put the horse through hardship,” said the 26-year old. “He’s a gorgeous horse and we’ll have another day with him.”
“It was brilliant, it felt like I’ve never been out of the saddle I just need to get a winner to put the icing on the cake.”
Fairy-tale ending
Brian’s sister Áine Finn, who travelled from Ireland with the rest of his family to watch the race, admitted it was “nervewracking” seeing her brother race again.
“To us it is the fairy-tale ending,” she said. “He’s got up on a horse and succeeded and achieved his dream and we’re so proud of him that he’s persevered.”
Given the severity of Brian’s injuries he had to meet strict medical criteria before having his jockey’s license re-issued. This included hearing and vision tests, physiotherapy assessments, and reports from consultants in neuropsychology, neurology and two neurosurgeons.
Remarkable story
He also had to provide references from licensed trainers and undergo a full medical assessment by the British Horseracing Association (BHA) chief medical advisor Dr Jerry Hill.
“The safety of our competitors is paramount in British Horseracing,” said Dr Hill. “The fact that Brian is still alive is a testament to the first class medical care which exists on British racecourses.
“To now be returning to ride again in Britain two years on, and having met all of the demanding criteria required of him to do so, is a quite remarkable story and an illustration of Brian’s determination and bravery.”