Oliver Townend brought to hospital!

[IrishGreenSheep]

If you search for Injured Oliver Townend airlifted to hospital after horror fall at Rolex Kentucky on Google News there are a few pics there. Looks like a horrible fall:scared:

Heres the story:
British eventer Oliver Townend was airlifted to hospital last night after suffering a crashing fall during the Rolex Kentucky competition in America.

Townend fell from his horse Ashdale Cruise Master at the 20th fence of the cross- country course and was knocked out cold.

As the combination jumped a four-foot rail, the horse appeared to slip and Townend tumbled over, striking his head.

Horrified spectators looked on as the Yorkshireman lay motionless and after treatment by paramedics, he was transferred by helicopter to the University of
Kentucky Hospital, where he was detained overnight.

Townend, 27, was conscious when he left the venue and team-mate William Fox-Pitt said: ‘The good news is he has regained consciousness and is cursing and swearing, so hopefully this means he is okay, much to the relief of us all here.

‘Knowing Ollie, he could well be back to ride in the showjumping tomorrow as he is lying well up there.’

Townend was bidding to land the £230,000 Rolex Grand Slam for winning consecutive four-star events — Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky — and his other challenger, ODT Master Rose, was well-placed ahead of today’s showjumping finale

The crash capped a traumatic few days for Townend, who went to great lengths to get to Kentucky.

He arrived just two days before the start after an epic 51-hour journey via Paris, Madrid and Miami, including a £1,600 taxi fare, because of air travel chaos.

Townend, the son of a milkman, is a popular figure in the States where he has been dubbed the ‘Hillbilly Hero’

[lilholley]

Ouch that looks awful! Is he ok do you know? x

[Anni~Bell]

Just checked his website and he is back in the UK and fine. Did look painful!

[IrishGreenSheep]

yeah I read on his website that hes back home now and just taking some time out

[IrishGreenSheep]

Oh snap anni~bell - we posted at the same time :p

[black crow]

Saw it the other day. He's now out and on the mend, missing badminton this year

Dont like him so dgas if hes missing badminton but im glad his horse is alright.

[casper_cb]

It was a horrid HORRID fall. I watched it on the Kentucky video, it's at around 4hours 40 minutes. Horrid horrid horrid. He's v. lucky to be OK/ alive in my opinion. Read today that the pin in the fence (frangible pin) did not give way, also his air jacket did not inflate till the horse got up off him as they fell together, it really was horrific.

Wishing him a speedy recovery back to full health. He must be so frustrated as, I imagine even when he is back to full health, due to being knocked out he'll be banned from competion for a number of weeks.

[IrishGreenSheep]

I've been looking for a video but couldn't find one. Could you PM me a link please?

[casper_cb]

Pm'd you the link, it happens at 4:43:53. You can play and pause it. It will send a chill down your spine.

[Zeitgeist Mom]

Thank goodness he is ok, looks nasty. Please send me the link Casper.

[IrishGreenSheep]

Oh lord thats scary to watch.:eek: So glad both were ok after

[black crow]

That's what i wondered about the jackets. He said it protected him, but i thought that if the tag isnt broken it wont inflate, so if your horse goes down and your underneath, if it doesnt break your stuck.

I agree, he's very lucky not to have been killed though.

[Zeitgeist Mom]

Tha
nks for the link Cas. Scary to watch. Happens so quickly - you can really hear the shock in the commentator's voice.

Does anyone know how the horse is? It's leg looked pretty sore when it got up.

[Teej]

:( How is the horse???

[IrishGreenSheep]

From what I have read the horse was walking fine after the fall but other than that I have no idea....anyone know???

[casper_cb]

In H&H it states Oliver broke 4 ribs, his sternum, collarbone and shoulder! OUCHHH!! The horsey is fine.

[XenaWarriorPrincess]

Horrific fall, 2 others fell the same way at the same fence and one nearly went. The pin didnt break with any of the falls.
He was very lucky as like someone else has said before, the jacket didnt inflate when he fell as him and the horse fell together.
Aparently he had withdrawn from badders before this happened.
There is a video on youtube where a spectator had videoed the whole thing, and carried on filming as he was lay on the floor, zoomed in on his face and everything...a bit sick IMO.

[gem]

Oh god I've just seen a video, horrible fall. Thank god they're both as ok as can be expected.

[ness]

oh no! poor Olly-he is my favorite showjumper!

[WeeB]

jeez....that looks terrible!!! Cant believe he got away with only broken bones! He is one very lucky man!

[cocopops]

It was a horrible fall and also agee, he is lucky to be alive and lucky he didnt break his neck.
As he stayed so close to the horse during the fall the lanyard from the point two did not release untill the horse came off him, so no the jacket definitely wasnt inflated on impact.

Also agree he had withdrawn from Badders before this fall.

All three horses that had rotationals at this fence, and the one that had a very near miss, all fell in exactly the same way, leaving the near fore- which raises a bit of a question.
the frangible pin on the fence was meant to break under vertical pressure from above, and not horizontal pressure from the take off side, hence it not breaking. There had been queries raised about this fence before the phase started, with some officials thinking a foam og, like the one at the jump into water, should have been used.
I dont like Olly, but wouldnt wish a fall like that on anyone, and hope he is back in the saddle soon.

[black crow]

Thumbs up from me for cocopops.

The idea of the jackets sounds good, but it doesnt sound the safest idea what so ever.

[cocopops]

Theres alot of discussion on the point two on HHO Black Crow, you might find it interesting. Although one member did get in a bit of trouble.
Its mainly about the lanyard affecting the trajectory of the rider away from the horse, as it takes 6 stone of pressure to break it free, and how it affects tuck and roll etc, also if the jackets are inflated when an injury occurs, they automatically deflate, potentially destabilising fractures..
A very interesting read.