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Home / Lifestyle

Young Kiwi jockey Sophia Malthus' fight to walk again

Daily Mail
24 Jan, 2017 08:07 AM2 mins to read

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Sophia Malthus has launched an online campaign on fundraising site Givealittle to raise money for experimental treatments. Photo / via Facebook

Sophia Malthus has launched an online campaign on fundraising site Givealittle to raise money for experimental treatments. Photo / via Facebook

A young female jockey who was left without feeling below her collarbone after falling from a racehorse is determined not to live her life out in a wheelchair.

Sophia Malthus, 19, came off her horse on November 29, 2015 at a stable near Ardmore in Auckland when the powerful animal 'bolted' during a practice session.

The young woman, who was left a quadriplegic, knew something wasn't right as soon as she hit the ground, Fairfax reported.

 Malthus fell from a horse during training. Photo / via Givealittle
Malthus fell from a horse during training. Photo / via Givealittle

Her neck was broken, and she couldn't feel her body.

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"(I) was already telling myself I was a paraplegic," Malthus told Fairfax.

The 19-year-old has been working hard during rehabiltation sessions - but still has no sensation in her body.

She can move her wrists to operate an electric wheel chair and is being taught some "self help" but she wants more.

"I don't want to learn to live with my injury until I've tried everything.

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"I'm only 19. I don't want to get to 40 and then decide to try something and have it work then."

Sophia Malthus, 19, came off her horse on November 29, 2015. Photo / via Givealittle
Sophia Malthus, 19, came off her horse on November 29, 2015. Photo / via Givealittle

Malthus has launched an online campaign on fundraising site Givealittle to raise money for experimental treatments with the hope she will one day be independent of her wheelchair.

"I have high hopes of gaining enough recovery to lead a full life again and to achieve this I will need to pursue many alternative treatments which are not currently funded by the health system here," Malthus explained on the page.

"These include but are not limited to peptide/hyperbaric oxygen and stem cell therapy and even virtual reality running/walking therapy.

Discover more

Racing

Top NZ horse trainer guilty over young rider's fall

01 Nov 07:43 PM

"I want to aggressively pursue any treatment that may help me regain what I have lost. I look forward to 2017 with excitement, some trepidation, curiosity and huge motivation."

Malthus before the accident - she hopes to run again. Photo / via Givealittle
Malthus before the accident - she hopes to run again. Photo / via Givealittle

Since the page was created 227 people have made donations - raising $15,682 by Tuesdaty evening.

She is currently based in Auckland at the hospital's spinal unit.

- This story appeared in the Daily Mail

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