THE FAMILY of critically injured jockey Melanie Bolwell is keeping a bedside vigil at Gold Coast Hospital after a horrific three-horse fall over the weekend that killed popular country jockey Darren Jones.
Apprentice jockey Melanie Bolwell is suffering bleeding on the brain and remains sedated, her father Jason told the Daily Telegraph this morning, after the fatal accident at Warialda races in northern NSW on Saturday.
“She’s opened her eyes a few times over the night, but she’s still heavily sedated and on a ventilator,” he said.
Jockey apprentice Melanie Bolwell and boyfriend Jack McGrath. Picture: FacebookSource:Facebook
Mr Bolwell said his daughter, age 22, had been an apprentice jockey to Tamworth trainer Sue Grills for the past two years and that he and wife Narelle had accepted the dangerous nature of their daughter’s chosen career.
“She’s had injuries before – it goes with the trade – but nothing as serious as this,” he said, adding that Melanie was the only jockey member the family.
“We’re not that silly,” he said.
The apprentice remains unaware that her mentor was killed in the same accident.
NSW RACING INDUSTRY MOURN LOSS OF DARREN JONES
Ms Grills said she was getting regular updates on Melanie’s condition.
“It’s still early days,” she said. “Melanie has really looked up to Darren over the past two years, she saw him as a bit of a mentor,” she said.
Racing NSW’s general manager of industry welfare and jockey safety officer, Maurice Logue, said last night it could be up to 72 hours before doctors make a call on whether surgery would be needed.
“It’s quite common for serious head injuries that they don’t know the full extent immediately and a number of days might go by before they have a better idea of what the outcome is going to be,” he said.
The third jockey involved in the horror pile up, Leanne Henry, is expected to undergo surgery this afternoon.
Jockey Leanne Henry will undergo surgery this afternoon. Picture: Jenny EvansSource:News Corp Australia
Jockey Darren Jones was killed at the Warialda races in northern NSW on Saturday.Source:Supplied
Ms Henry, who sustained a fractured collarbone in the accident, was discharged from
Tamworth Hospital yesterday.
“I don't remember anything, I have no memory of what happened,” she told the Daily Telegraph this morning, from the Sydney rooms of Racing NSW’s orthopedic surgeon Dr David Duckworth.
“I’ve had plenty of other falls but this is probably the worst in 20 years (racing).”
At today’s race meet in Armidale, a minute’s silence will be observed for Darren Jones and jockeys will wear black armbands to mark Saturday’s tragedy.
Also thinking and sending a prayer for the other 2 fallen jockeys today. Leanne Henry and Melanie Bolwell. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
— Kathy O’Hara (@Kathy_ohara) April 8, 2017
@boss_glen once said the only occupation where the ambulance follows you out to work. Thoughts go out to the family of Darren Jones
— john hogan (@jonti13) April 8, 2017
The ever-present danger of race riding again tragically highlighted with the passing of Darren Jones. Best wishes to his family and friends.
— Matt Welsh (@Themodernpunter) April 8, 2017
In Sydney on the same day, two jockeys took a serious tumble during the Sydney Cup at Royal Randwick, resulting in the racehorse Almoonqith being euthanised on the track. The riders, Blake Shinn and James Doyle, limped from the course but the race was called off for safety reasons.
Racing NSW will decide today if and when the race will be rescheduled.
According to the National Jockeys Trust, 15 jockeys have been killed in as many years since 2002.
Almoonqith ridden by James Doyle (in blue) breaks a leg during the Sydney Cup at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday. Picture: Craig Golding.Source:AAP
James Doyle helps Blake Shinn to his feet after they both fell during the Sydney Cup. Picture: Craig GoldingSource:AAP
Originally published as Jockey’s family in bedside vigil
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