Get well soon, John

Messages from all over the world have been sent to Horse & Hound in support of John Whitaker’s family after news of his health scare in Sweden.

John was taken ill while preparing to compete at Stockholm’s Globe Arena and suffered a cerebral haemorrhage. He was taken to a hospital in Uppsala and operated on for a ruptured blood vessel in his head, his condition is said to be “stable but serious”.

John’s worldwide popularity is well known. In Sweden, news of John’s illness was the lead headline of Expressen, the biggest selling tabloid (“World Star John Whitaker Suffers Stroke Fighting For His Life Last Night”), while the improvement in his condition was front page news in the Svenska Dagbladet (a leading broadsheet the following day.

Meanwhile, Jackie Knightley, chief executive at the BSJA confirmed that they would be collecting all cards and messages to forward on to John and his family.

Anyone wishing to send their good wishes, should contact the BSJA at National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwicks, CV8 2LR (mark your envelope John Whitaker).

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