December 26, 2008

THE parents of apprentice jockey Lachlan Fyfe - who has been in a coma at a Sydney hospital for 10 days after a racetrack fall - were granted a Christmas miracle yesterday when the 23-year-old opened his eyes.

Fyfe "woke up" in Nepean Hospital, where he has remained unconscious since his sickening barrier trial at Hawkesbury on December 15.

It is understood he has opened his eyes for the first time but is yet to speak.

Doctors are, however, encouraged by the development, as are his parents and girlfriend, who have remained at his hospital bedside since the accident.

Fyfe was thrown to the ground while riding an unraced two-year-old in the last of eight trials.

His mount, Mealtime, snapped a leg less than 100m from the finish of the barrier trial, sending horse and rider crashing to the turf.

Fyfe was knocked unconscious on impact.

Mealtime suffered fatal leg injuries in the fall and was put down.

Fyfe was taken by ambulance to Nepean Hospital and placed in an induced coma while doctors assessed his head injuries.

He was transferred to the intensive care ward and put on a life-support system.

Initial scans did not show any brain injury but doctors described his condition as serious.

Yesterday, a spokesman for trainer Graeme Rogerson, to whom Fyfe is indentured, confirmed the young jockey had "woken up".

Fyfe's family, who are from the Central Coast, were last night awaiting the results of further tests.

January 23, 2009

PROMISING Sydney apprentice jockey Lachlan Fyfe has vowed to make a comeback to race riding as he continues to make a remarkable recovery from serious head injuries sustained in a racetrack fall last month.

"My goal down the track is to ride again," Fyfe said from his hospital bed in his first interview since the horror track accident at the Hawkesbury barrier trials.

Fyfe, 23, suffered severe bruising to the brain and was in a coma for 10 days after his mount, Mealtime, broke a leg and crashed to the turf in a barrier trial on December 15.

Doctors feared the worst as Fyfe struggled to regain consciousness after being placed in an induced coma but his family's prayers for a miracle were answered late morning on Christmas Day when the young jockey opened his eyes for the first time since the fall.

Fyfe's condition continues to improve daily but the apprentice knows his road to recovery has only just begun.

He still can't move his right arm or leg and has to be retaught even the most basic of motor skills but doctors believe he will eventually make a full recovery.

"It was only about a couple of weeks ago that I started to become aware of things again," Fyfe said. "I know I'm lucky. I'm OK, I feel all right - it's just the right side of my body. The doctors say it is time I need now."

Doctors say Fyfe needs another six months of intensive rehabilitation and a period of rest and recuperation before his recovery is complete.

Fyfe has set himself a target of returning to the saddle in 12 months times.

His loving, dutiful parents, Chris and Jenny, have been at their son's bedside since the trial accident and although they have their reservations, both will not stand in the way of Lachlan's dream to return to the saddle.

"Personally, I would prefer he didn't ride again," Chris Fyfe said. "But what I really want is to see Lachlan in a position where he can make that choice for himself."

Fyfe has had a steady stream of visitors at the brain injury unit of Ryde's Royal Rehabilitation Centre including former Australian Idol contestant Marty Simpson, who took time out from his national concert tour to visit his close friend during the week.

Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy said an inquiry into Fyfe's fall was continuing.

"We do not have any race vision of the fall but we have taken a number of statements from witnesses," Murrihy said. "The preliminary view is that the horse snapped a leg and that was the cause of the fall."

An autopsy on Mealtime revealed the horse suffered a fracture of the cannon bone about 100m from the finish of the barrier trial.

Thanks Dougie. We say it over and over again but what a dangerous profession is being a jockey and what "gutsy" people they are. I read that Jason Holder and has been conscious for a few days and talking to his family. Hopefully both Lachlan and Jason recover fully and are able to pursue what direction they wish to take in life. I have a feeling it is going to be getting back into the saddle.