Racing: Top jockey fights for life after pig-hunting accident

Michael Walker
Michael Walker
As jockey Michael Walker fights for his life after suffering serious head injuries in a pig-hunting accident, tests have revealed he has no other internal damage.

``By all accounts there's no broken bones and all his internal organs are operating properly,'' Walker's manager, Aidan Rodley, said today.

``So now the main concern is that the head comes right and he's getting the best possible care up in Auckland.''

A hospital spokeswoman said this morning Walker remained in a critical condition in intensive care.

Rodley said the 24-year-old was carrying a pig on his shoulders during the hunting trip northeast of New Plymouth when he fell over a bluff and into a creek on Monday.

He had to spend a night in the bush as one of his friends was not able to immediately find his way out because of the darkness.

``It was a time when ideally the quicker he got medical care the better it would have been.''

Walker was flown to Auckland last night after initially being treated at Taranaki Base Hospital.

His injuries have ruled him out of achieving his goal of being the first New Zealand jockey to ride 200 winners in a season.

``This past season he has ridden 133 winners alone, and that's with 2-1/2 months of the season remaining,'' Rodley said.

``He just won't ride another winner again this season."

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