William Fox-Pitt’s recovery ‘is going to take time’
William Fox-Pitt is “continuing to make steady progress”, but remains in hospital in France.
A statement from British Eventing (BE) issued today (Wednesday, 4 November) warned that his recovery “is going to take time”.
“Once again the family are hugely grateful to the team who are looking after him, and also to everyone who has sent messages of support,” said a BE spokesman.
William suffered a head trauma during a serious cross-country fall in France nearly three weeks ago. He was kept sedated under close observation by hospital staff for a week before regaining consciousness.
On Friday (30 October), his condition had improved sufficiently for him to be moved out of the intensive care unit.
The Olympic eventer has been in hospital in France since Saturday 17 October, when he fell at Le Lion d’Angers.
William fell at fence 20, an owl hole, on the cross-country while riding Reinstated.
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The pair were competing in the seven-year-old CCI2* class at the FEI/WBFSH world championships for young eventing horses.
William had already completed the course successfully on his first ride, The Soapdodger.
Reinstated, whom William first competed in May 2014 at Chatsworth, was not injured in the fall.
The course was held for more than an hour while William received medical assistance before being transferred to Angers hospital.
The 46-year-old is currently at number three in the world eventing rankings.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.