{"id":85377,"date":"2023-09-12T14:27:10","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T14:27:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebritytidings.com\/?p=85377"},"modified":"2023-09-12T14:27:10","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T14:27:10","slug":"im-a-top-jockey-who-was-1mm-from-being-paralysed-horror-fall-nearly-killed-me-but-made-me-my-girlfriend-much-closer-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebritytidings.com\/sport\/im-a-top-jockey-who-was-1mm-from-being-paralysed-horror-fall-nearly-killed-me-but-made-me-my-girlfriend-much-closer-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"I'm a top jockey who was 1mm from being paralysed – horror fall nearly killed me but made me & my girlfriend much closer | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

A RISING star jockey cracked all his teeth and was just 1mm away from being paralysed in a horror fall. <\/p>\n

But the aftermath of the horror incident brought the hugely talented rider and his partner closer together, and he's targeting a remarkable return to the saddle next month.<\/p>\n


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Teo Nugent explained how the recovery period strengthened the pair's bond and had him thanking his lucky stars. <\/p>\n

Nugent was riding Florescent Star at Moonee Valley in Australia in March and the pair looked to have an excellent chance as they turned into the straight. <\/p>\n

Disaster struck, however, as Florescent Star clipped heels and Nugent was slammed head-first into the turf. <\/p>\n

Florescent Star had to be euthanized following the fall, while Nugent cracked all of his teeth and suffered a broken neck. <\/p>\n

The amount of force that Nugent slammed to the ground with actually crushed his C1 vertebrae, rather than the fracturing it like initially thought.<\/p>\n

Despite the horrific nature of his injuries, Nugent was actually very fortunate, as he'd have been paralysed if it was just 1mm to the left. <\/p>\n

His partner Claira told racing.com: "Teo was millimetres off being a quadriplegic and that's when we all broke down thinking how can that be, how close he came.<\/p>\n

"They told us there was no guarantees and that surgery could turn him into a paraplegic or a quadriplegic, it was Teo's decision if we did surgery or not."<\/p>\n

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Nugent said: "I feel very lucky to be here to tell the tale and have made it through the other side." <\/p>\n

\u00a0"I wish I hadn't asked to watch it but I had because I didn't know what had happened. It was obviously really tough to watch."<\/p>\n

'We're closer, you don't take anything for granted' <\/strong><\/p>\n

Nugent is targeting a return to race riding next month and will begin trackwork this week after getting the all-clear from doctors. <\/p>\n

It's been a long road to recovery, but one that has brought the pair much closer together. <\/p>\n

Nugent said: "I really can't thank Claira enough for how she's looked after me, it's definitely brought us a lot closer.<\/p>\n

"If I hadn't had Claira during my recovery I'd be in bad shape for sure, I couldn't wash myself for starters and I don't think getting my old man in to scrub my back would have been good at all.<\/p>\n

"It would have been quite odd if we'd only just started going out together and I'd had the fall then, but we've been together four years now."<\/p>\n

Claira added: "For sure we're closer, you don't take anything for granted after something like this happens." <\/p>\n

"I definitely didn't realise how big of a job it was going to be, he couldn't do anything really.<\/p>\n

"It was a big change but we're stronger than ever I'd say."<\/p>\n

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