Amateur jockey JT McNamara, who was paralysed in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival, has been transferred to a hospital in his native Ireland.
JT was taken to the National Spinal Unit at Mater Hospital in Dublin at the weekend (21 April). He had spent several weeks in Frenchay hospital in Bristol following his fall from the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Galaxy Rock on 14 March, in which he fractured two vertebrae.
“We wish to express sincere thanks to all the personnel involved in JT McNamara’s safe transfer. We will forever be indebted to the staff at Frenchay Hospital for the fantastic care he has received there since his injury,” said a statement issued jointly by Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Irish Turf Club senior medical officer and Lisa Hancock of the Injured Jockeys Fund on behalf of the McNamara Family.
“John Thomas is looking forward to the next phase of his treatment and rehabilitation in Ireland. We thank everyone for their on-going support and prayers and ask people please to continue to respect our privacy.”