Irish jockey Graham Lee, who previously won the Grand National, is currently in intensive care after a horrifying fall left him with a "very serious" spinal injury. Doctors are unable to determine the extent of his long-term recovery at this stage.

Injury Details

Lee, 47, was taken to the hospital after being unseated from his horse, Ben Macdui, during a Sprint Handicap race at Newcastle Racecourse on Friday. The Injured Jockeys' Fund provided an update on his condition, stating that he suffered an unstable cervical fracture which damaged his spinal cord. Additionally, Lee has also sustained damage to blood vessels in the mid-cervical region.

Current Treatment

The jockey is currently receiving medical assistance for his breathing in the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) at the Royal Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle. The Injured Jockeys' Fund emphasizes that this is a severe injury and it is too early to predict the extent of his long-term recovery. Lee's family expressed their gratitude for the overwhelming support they have received.

Accomplished Career

Graham Lee's career boasts over 1,000 victories, including his Grand National win on Amberleigh House in 2004 and the Gold Cup with Trip to Paris 11 years later. He has achieved equal success in both flat racing since 2012 and jumps racing prior to that.

Racing Community's Support

The racing community has rallied around Lee, expressing their shock and sending their best wishes. Dale Gibson, the interim chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, highlighted the sense of unity within the racing world during times of injury. Broadcaster Derek Thompson also showed his support, describing Lee as a top-class horseman and a friendly face at the racecourse.

Lee, who resides in Bedale, North Yorkshire, with his wife and children, has won 47 out of 598 races this season, including 15 for Ben Macdui's trainer Paul Midgley.