Additional Coverage:
- Jockey has both legs amputated after horrified wife found him trapped under dead horse (themirror.com)
Veteran jockey Shane McGovern has undergone double leg amputation following a serious accident at his stables in North Queensland, Australia. The 67-year-old was conducting trackwork when his horse, Reformist, collapsed and died, trapping McGovern beneath the animal.
McGovern’s wife, Kim, found him after six hours and he was quickly transported to Townsville Hospital. The incident on April 8 cut off blood flow to his legs. Medical examinations also revealed a dislocated shoulder and multiple fractured ribs.
The Australian Jockeys Association shared an update on social media: “A devastating update on QLD jockey Shane McGovern, unfortunately Shane has now had both his legs amputated. We are sending all our prayers and love to you Shane and your family. Keep fighting Shane.”
Kevin Ring, health and safety officer for the association, told Racenet that McGovern-who has achieved over 200 wins from 1,885 race starts-remains sedated but stable. Additional surgeries are expected as part of his recovery.
“They can do amazing things these days, so as long as he’s got some quality of life, that’s the main thing. It’s going to be a long slog with rehab,” Ring said.
Reformist, a nine-year-old horse, reportedly suffered an aneurysm during the routine exercise that led to the collapse.
In support of McGovern’s recovery, Racing Queensland donated $36,000 to a GoFundMe campaign, with the Queensland Jockeys’ Association contributing an additional $3,600. The total raised has surpassed $55,000.
A message on the fundraising page emphasized the impact of the accident: “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. 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.”
The racing community continues to rally around McGovern and his family as he begins the challenging road to recovery.