Racing: Horrific fall leaves German jockey paralysed from the waist down

Frederik Tylicki riding Speedy Boarding (R) wins The Prix de l'Opera Longines at Chantilly racecourse in Chantilly, France. Photo / Getty

German jockey Frederik Tylicki has been left paralysed from below the waist following a fall in a horrific four-horse pileup earlier this week, the Injured Jockeys Fund revealed.

The 30-year-old, who is based in England and had a breakthrough season, landing two Group One races with filly Speedy Boarding, has been in hospital since the accident in a flat race at Kempton Park, southwest of London, on Monday.

"After his fall at Kempton Park Racecourse earlier this week, Freddy Tylicki was transferred to St George's Hospital in London, where he has since undergone surgery to his spine," said Lisa Hancock, Chief Executive Officer of the IJF.

"His surgical team have confirmed that Freddy has a T7 paralysis, which means he has movement in the upper half of his body but not his lower.

"Freddy remains in intensive care and is not receiving any visitors for the foreseeable future.

"His family would like to thank the St George's staff for the care he has received. As this is a very difficult time for Freddy and his family, they would like to thank everyone for their good wishes, and for continuing to respect their privacy."

Tylicki had been leading on Nellie Deen when they came to grief resulting in newly-crowned champion jockey Jim Crowley being brought down on Electrify, with jockeys Steve Drowne and Ted Durcan also unseated from their mounts.

Crowley was also taken to hospital but was released later on Monday with just a broken nose.

Drowne escaped unscathed while Durcan broke an ankle.

Tylicki, the son of a three-time German champion jockey, was considered the up and coming talent when he won the 2009 Apprentice championship, donating his trophy to the family of a colleague who had been killed in a fire.

He recovered from a serious shoulder injury in 2010 and whilst never hitting the 100-winner-a-year landmark regularly notched up over 50 a season but had to wait till Speedy Boarding won the Prix Jean Romanet in August for his first ever Group One triumph.

She was to go on and win the Prix de l'Opera on Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe day on October 2.