Amateur rider 'improving all the time' after being knocked unconscious in fall

Amateur rider Jonathan O'Keeffe is making progress in hospital after being knocked unconscious in a nasty incident at Wolverhampton on Saturday night.

O'Keeffe was riding Prince Achille for his father Jedd when his saddle slipped and he unseated and was sent crashing to the ground.

He was rushed to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, where he had a CT scan, and appears to have escaped serious injury.

"He's conscious and talking and phoned us this morning and he's improving all the time," said Jedd O'Keeffe on Monday.

"It looked like the saddle slipped and as it went to the right going into a very tight left-handed bend, the poor kid had no chance at all and took a heavy, violent fall, but luckily I think he'll be okay.

"I think he was unconscious for a total of five minutes following his fall and he was rushed to New Cross Hospital, where they've taken very good care of him. He had a CT scan on Saturday night and that was clear, which is good news, and there doesn't appear to be any other injuries."

O'Keeffe, who is studying business and economics at Sheffield University, was having only his fifth career ride, having turned 18 in the summer.

"Unfortunately, he's in a ward where they're restricting visitors because of a recent Covid outbreak, but they did let us see him yesterday and all the help we've received from everyone has been absolutely fantastic," his father added.

"We're going to see him again today and he thinks he's ready to leave, although I'm not sure he is."

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