Champion apprentice jockey Joe Leavy has opened up on his brush with death in a serious car accident ahead of his return to race-riding on Wednesday. The 20-year-old was airlifted to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford after a single-vehicle collision near Hungerford, Berkshire, on 30 November.
Leavy, who had ridden a winner at Wolverhampton hours before the crash, broke his jaw and required surgery to insert two plates. He also suffered a collarbone injury and whiplash. 'I don't know what happened. The first thing I remember is waking up in hospital and my mum was by my side,' he said. 'I feel very lucky to be alive, it could have been so much worse.'
The jockey spent a month on a liquid diet and underwent rehabilitation at the Oaksey House centre in Lambourn, where he exercised and had physiotherapy five days a week. 'Thankfully it didn't stop me going to the gym and I was able to build my fitness back up,' he added.
Leavy returns to action at Kempton Park on Wednesday, riding Celestique for trainer Richard Hannon. He also has a mount on Joolianoss for James Evans. 'Racing can be very full on. I'd had two very busy years without a break but having to take time off has made me eager to get back to it,' he said.
Thames Valley Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash, which also involved weighing room colleague Will Carver and a female passenger, both of whom were taken to hospital and later released.
