Veteran Queensland jockey Shane McGovern has been moved to palliative care as he continues to battle the devastating effects of a freak accident at his stables. The 67-year-old lost both legs last month after he was trapped for six hours underneath the body of his horse Reformist, who had reportedly died from an aneurysm.
McGovern, who was found by his wife and fellow trainer Kim, had his left leg amputated first before doctors removed his right leg two weeks later. He had more of his left leg removed recently, but complications remained.
Palliative care transfer
“He has been transferred to the palliative care unit due to ongoing issues,” the AJA said. “He has his family by his side now as he continues with this horrendous battle.” AJA health safety officer Kevin Ring told Racenet “it’s a sad situation”. “They just couldn’t control the infection and he was also bleeding internally,” Ring said. “They did take a bit more of his left leg off but they couldn’t do any more. They were pumping him full of blood and he was surviving but that was it. The family just agreed it was best to let him rest and keep him comfortable.”
Community support
A GoFundMe campaign set up to help the McGovern family has so far raised $83,000. As well as losing blood circulation to both his legs during the initial ordeal, McGovern also suffered broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder. Wife Kim spoke in the days after the accident. “I thought ‘well, that’s Shane, he’ll just go off for a ride’, which is what he does because the horse was supposed to be racing on Monday,” Kim said. “But I’m absolutely kicking myself, and it’s a thing I will never forget. And then this ghoulish little arm comes up, and he says ‘I’m all right’.”
