Young jockey Stetano Cherchi has passed away in hospital two weeks after he was seriously injured in a racing fall.
News of the death of the 23-year-old, orginally from Sardinia, was announced by the New South Wales Jockeys Association, who have been supporting the rider and his family and friends on Wednesday.
A statement posted on Twitter said: “With deep sadness, the Cherchi family have announced their beloved son Stefano passed away peacefully today. The family are very grateful for the love, prayers & messages sent by the racing community across the world.”
His parents and his girlfriend Brittany Fallon, daughter of former champion jockey Kieren Fallon, were at his bedside. They had been joined in Australia by fellow jockey Andrea Atzeni, a mentor to Cherchi.
Cherchi, who rode 106 winners in Britain, had started riding in Australia in January. He was riding in a race in Canberra when his horse, Hasime, came down in an incident that involved two other horses.
While the other two riders and all the horses avoided injury, 23-year-old Cherchi was attended to by medics on the track for around an hour before he was transported to hospital in the Australian capital. His fall was labelled a 'freak accident' by Fallon.
It was the worst possible news about the jockey who had become immensely popular among the British racing community since he arrived in Britain.
Among those to pay tribute was trainer Robert Cowell, who said: “Oh no… This is so tragic and sad beyond words. A lovely lovely man with a wonderful sense of humour and a big future. Thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
ITV and Sky Sports Racing broadcaster Leonna Mayor said: “So very sad: (such a fun loved person. He will be so sorely missed”
Jockey Cieren Fallon, Brittany Fallon’s brother, had been among many to urge people to pray for Cherchi’s recovery. On Thursday last week prayers were offered for the jockey during a service at the Sanctuary of Sant’Ignazio da Laconi in Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia by the Capuchin friars .