Veteran Aussie jockey Shane McGovern has been transferred to palliative care, as he continues to fight the effects of a shocking trackwork accident earlier this month.
McGovern, 67 has seen both of his legs amputated after being trapped under a dead horse for six hours.
The freak incident cut off blood circulation to McGovern’s legs, with him also suffering a dislocated shoulder and several broken ribs.
‘He has been transferred to the palliative care unit due to ongoing issues,’ an Australian Jockeys Association spokesperson told Channel Seven.
‘He has his family by his side now as he continues with this horrendous battle.’
After McGovern’s first leg was amputated, his wife was optimistic given her husband’s fighting spirit.
Shane McGovern (pictured right) has been given some devastating news in his health fight
The jockey (pictured) has been moved into palliative care
‘It won’t slow him down, it might just be a bump in the road,’ she told Racenet.
Racing Queensland donated $50,000 to a GoFundMe page set up for McGovern’s recovery, with the Queensland Jockeys’ Association contributing $5000.
In his career, McGovern has chalked up over 200 wins and 676 place results from 1885 starts.
Earlier this month, fellow Queensland jockeys Jasper Franklin and Yvette Lewis were injured during Gold Coast jumpouts.
Franklin’s Brisbane apprentice premiership dreams were shattered as he nurses a broken collarbone.
Lewis suffered concussion and a tailbone injury after her horse bucked during a jumpout.
The GoFundMe page set up to help the McGovern family has so far raised $83,000.
Top jockey moved to palliative care after getting trapped under dead horse
The popular jockey had to have both of his legs amputated following the horror accident
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McGovern had his legs amputated following the horrific accident
A popular jockey who had to have both of his legs amputated after getting trapped under his horse has now been moved to palliative care in a devastating development.
Shane McGovern was riding his horse Reformist at his stables in North Queensland, Australia, earlier this month when the nine-year-old horse reportedly collapsed and died after suffering an aneurysm. The 67-year-old veteran jockey was then trapped underneath the horse for six hours before being discovered by his wife Kim and rushed to hospital.
The incident, which occurred on April 8, saw the blood supply to McGovern’s legs cut off and he underwent a double amputation.
Doctors also found that he had dislocated his shoulder and broken several ribs in the accident.
In a devastating update on Thursday, the Australian Jockeys Association announced that McGovern has now been moved to palliative care, with his family by his side in hospital.
“An update on Shane McGovern, he has been transferred to the palliative care unit due to ongoing issues,” a post on X read.
“He has his family by his side now as he continues with this horrendous battle. Updates to follow.”
A GoFundMe page was quickly set up for McGovern and his family, with just over $84,000 AUD (£44,600) raised so far.
Racing Queensland has contributed $50,000 AUD (£26,000) alone, while the Queensland Jockeys’ Association has donated an additional £2,600.
“At age 67, Shane has dedicated his entire working life to our industry and for it to be changed in this way through this accident is incredibly confronting for him and for his wife Kim,” a post on the donation page read.
“Shane will be facing a long time in hospital and will then need many months of rehabilitation. It is a total disruptor to a life that he and his wife Kim had built over decades around their horse training and riding lives.
“Bills will be one of many ongoing challenges for this hardworking family and in an industry so generous in supporting our own when tragedies like this occur, it is an opportunity to ask those who are able to, to contribute to this Go Fund Me page.
“While donations of any amount will truly assist Shane, just knowing we’re thinking of him at this time will mean the world.”
The post added: “If you could share the GoFundMe link with your friends throughout the industry, it would mean so much. The more people hear about Shane’s plight, the quicker we can reach our fundraising goal.”