I was a top jockey who died for seven seconds after a fall – now I’m back training winners for Harry Redknapp

1 year ago 72

A JOCKEY who was clinically dead for seven seconds after a sickening fall has made a miracle return to racing as a winning trainer for Harry Redknapp.

The story of Brian Toomey is scarcely believable – and it’s no wonder he treats every day as a gift after his life was, for a brief moment, ended.

"A dream come true."

We all know the odds @BToomeyRacing has beaten to get here and he spoke to us after the first winner of his training career in the lucky last at @kemptonparkrace this evening.

Many congrats, Brian! @MDoutthesaddle pic.twitter.com/AWF0ZE6pXD

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 20, 2023

The photos of Toomey’s swollen skull and the massive scar that covered one side of his head show the scale of recovery he has gone through since that fall at Perth in 2013.

He was given just a three per cent chance of survival and spent 157 nights in hospital.

Medics told him that his heart stopped beating for seven seconds before he was resuscitated.

Ten years on he has rebuilt his life and career and on Wednesday night he reached another milestone – winning his first race as a trainer.

And he did it for the legendary football boss who has been a supporter of his from the start – but unfortunately couldn’t be at the Surrey track because he was covering the Carabao Cup on Sky.

Toomey looked understandably emotional as he spoke to Racing TV about what Wake Up Harry’s win in a 7f race on the all-weather at Kempton meant to him.

He said: “It’s a dream come true. Words can’t describe it.

“How far I’ve come in such a short space of time from where I was all of those years ago when I got injured, it’s incredible.”

And speaking of Redknapp’s support, he said: “He’s been unbelievable to me.

“The support he’s given me and his kindness has been second to none and I really appreciate it.

“I’ve got some nice horses in the yard for some great owners and I’m very grateful.”

Even a decade on, the scale of Toomey’s injury is hard to comprehend.

He was put in an induced coma and had part of his skull removed to make way for a titanium plate.

His scalp was stapled together again and he had to resit his driving test.

Toomey told Sun Racing about his ambitions and how he wanted to write the next chapter of his life.

He said: “I’m always going to be known as the ex-jockey with the injury but I want to be known for my hard work and my racing mind – rather than a broken brain.

“I had a titanium plate put in my head. It doesn’t stop me doing anything – apart from being a professional sportsman – but I have been very lucky.

“I was put in an induced coma. I had to have part of my skull removed. I shouldn’t be alive and I feel lucky to have made the recovery I have.”

Hopefully that recovery includes many more winners.

A huge privilege for Harry Redknapp to visit my yard and have a horse in training with me, let’s hope for some winners pic.twitter.com/xsuficBYTt