Injured jockey Brian Toomey to start rehab

Injured jockey Brian Toomey is soon to embark on a rehabilitation programme after moving hospitals.

The conditional jockey suffered serious head injuries in a fall at Perth racecourse last month (4 July). He fell from Solway Dandy, trained by Lisa Harrison and was taken to hospital in Dundee. There he was placed into an induced coma and underwent surgery to reduce swelling on his brain. He has since been recovering in Dundee.

At the weekend (10 August), Brian was transferred to a hospital in Middlesbrough, which is nearer to trainer Kevin Ryan’s Hambleton yard.

Brian is attached to Kevin’s yard, and his girlfriend, champion conditional jockey Amy Ryan, is Kevin’s daughter.

“Brian Toomey continues to show positive signs of recovery following his transfer from Dundee to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough last weekend, where he is due to start a rehabilitation programme,” said Lisa Hancock of the Injured Jockeys Fund.

Brian’s friend and fellow jockey Brian Hughes, who visited him over the weekend, said: “Brian’s in good form and is walking and talking and doing everything normally. He recognises everybody and seems to be himself, which is brilliant.”

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