Matt O'Connor
Matt O'Connor remembers nothing about Thursday, March 26, 2009.
Matt O'Connor remembers nothing about Thursday, March 26, 2009.
And that's probably just as well because it was the day he nearly died.
And that's probably just as well because it was the day he nearly died.
A horrific fall from Walking Aisy at Thurles knocked O'Connor unconscious and put him in intensive care with serious head injuries.
A horrific fall from Walking Aisy at Thurles knocked O'Connor unconscious and put him in intensive care with serious head injuries.
In a coma and on a life support machine, many thought O'Connor would not live.
In a coma and on a life support machine, many thought O'Connor would not live.
Everyone thought he would never ride again.
Everyone thought he would never ride again.
Thankfully, he has done both. It is nothing short of a miracle but 'Strawberry', as he is known in the weighing room, was back in the saddle six months after his injury.
Thankfully, he has done both. It is nothing short of a miracle but 'Strawberry', as he is known in the weighing room, was back in the saddle six months after his injury.
He said: "To be quite honest, the fall I took is still a complete blank.
He said: "To be quite honest, the fall I took is still a complete blank.
"I can remember what I was doing a few days before the accident and everything before that.
"I can remember what I was doing a few days before the accident and everything before that.
"My memory is perfect even up to the present.
"My memory is perfect even up to the present.
"But on that day, even when I'm told about it, I can't recall it.
"But on that day, even when I'm told about it, I can't recall it.
"In hospital, doctors found I had damaged the frontal lobe on the left side of my brain and I also damaged the back of my brain.
"In hospital, doctors found I had damaged the frontal lobe on the left side of my brain and I also damaged the back of my brain.
Anguish "But because they were concentrating on that to save my life, they found later I also punctured a lung and cracked some ribs."
Anguish "But because they were concentrating on that to save my life, they found later I also punctured a lung and cracked some ribs."
O'Connor has every reason to remember February 24, 2010.
O'Connor has every reason to remember February 24, 2010.
It was the day of his first winner since his return, on Kimberlite King at Fairyhouse.
It was the day of his first winner since his return, on Kimberlite King at Fairyhouse.
He said: "It was a great moment but all I could think about was my parents.
He said: "It was a great moment but all I could think about was my parents.
"To this day I'm still thinking about the worry, the anguish and what it must have been like for them.
"To this day I'm still thinking about the worry, the anguish and what it must have been like for them.
"I will always be indebted to them. "And, of course, I can never repay the doctors and nurses in the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire. They saved my life."
"I will always be indebted to them. "And, of course, I can never repay the doctors and nurses in the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire. They saved my life."
But despite that winner, it was a hard road back for O'Connor and he was hit by more injuries on his return to action. He said: "After coming back, I rode a couple of winners but then I broke my collarbone.
But despite that winner, it was a hard road back for O'Connor and he was hit by more injuries on his return to action. He said: "After coming back, I rode a couple of winners but then I broke my collarbone.
"Then I broke it again and shortly after, I broke a finger.
"Then I broke it again and shortly after, I broke a finger.
"My inner voice was telling me that my luck was very definitely out so I decided to up and leave for England."
"My inner voice was telling me that my luck was very definitely out so I decided to up and leave for England."
Still only 22, O'Connor has plenty to look forward to.
Still only 22, O'Connor has plenty to look forward to.
After 37 winners in Ireland, including riding Big Zeb to victory in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial A Bet Chase, O'Connor is enjoying life in Britain.
After 37 winners in Ireland, including riding Big Zeb to victory in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial A Bet Chase, O'Connor is enjoying life in Britain.
He said: "I'm conditional jockey to Neil Mulholland and things are going well, touch wood.
He said: "I'm conditional jockey to Neil Mulholland and things are going well, touch wood.
"I've also picked up rides for other trainers like Brendan Powell, Colin Tizzard, Milton Harris and Tim Vaughan. So things are going well and hopefully it'll continue that way."
"I've also picked up rides for other trainers like Brendan Powell, Colin Tizzard, Milton Harris and Tim Vaughan. So things are going well and hopefully it'll continue that way."
Just last Sunday, O'Connor rode his first winner since his move across the Irish Sea, partnering aptly-named 20-1 shot Just The Job to win at Plumpton for Mulholland.
Just last Sunday, O'Connor rode his first winner since his move across the Irish Sea, partnering aptly-named 20-1 shot Just The Job to win at Plumpton for Mulholland.
He said: "It was great to get that first win under my belt and I feel I'm riding as well now as at any time before.
He said: "It was great to get that first win under my belt and I feel I'm riding as well now as at any time before.
"I need two more wins to bring my claim down from 5lb to 3lb so hopefully it won't be long before that happens."
"I need two more wins to bring my claim down from 5lb to 3lb so hopefully it won't be long before that happens."
O'Connor is now based in Tewkesbury, just near Cheltenham.
O'Connor is now based in Tewkesbury, just near Cheltenham.
It is a great location and O'Connor said: "I'm living with Aidan Coleman. He is a top rider and a great craic. I'm really enjoying things.
It is a great location and O'Connor said: "I'm living with Aidan Coleman. He is a top rider and a great craic. I'm really enjoying things.
"On the downside, I do miss my family and friends back home and I'm clocking up the mileage. If I'm not racing I'm still driving all the over the place to ride work."
"On the downside, I do miss my family and friends back home and I'm clocking up the mileage. If I'm not racing I'm still driving all the over the place to ride work."
However, whether he is behind the wheel of his battered motor or driving a horse home up the run-in, O'Connor is just happy to be alive.
However, whether he is behind the wheel of his battered motor or driving a horse home up the run-in, O'Connor is just happy to be alive.
He said: "It's tiring but my car is more knackered than me!" And, after all O'Connor has been through, that certainly makes a very pleasant change.
He said: "It's tiring but my car is more knackered than me!" And, after all O'Connor has been through, that certainly makes a very pleasant change.