HAVING been in the eyes of the media worldwide early this week, Crossgar-born Chris Meehan has spent the past few days recovering at his parents’ home in the Ards Peninsula, counting down the days until he can return to the saddle.

For anyone who has been in total isolation recently, Meehan has been riding in Italy for the past couple of months. On Sunday, he was racing over hurdles in Merano when he was unseated, had his nose broken by the first blow he received from the following runners and was knocked out by a second kick which also badly lacerated his jaw.

Assistance from the racecourse starter prevented the jockey from choking on his blood but the ambulance which was to pick him up on what he described as a very tight track, reversed over his outstretched right leg, breaking it and dislocating his ankle.

“The pain didn’t hit me straight away but, when I saw the ambulance on my leg, I just started screaming. The groundstaff had to manhandle it off me.”

In an interview on Tuesday with Dublin radio station Today FM, a rather stoic Chris, whose family is closely involved with the ambulance service in Northern Ireland, told Anton Savage that it was “just a freak accident.”

The 22-year-old seemed more upset by the fact that he had received no painkillers following two visits to the local hospital in Merano other than a local anaesthetic while he received 27 stitches to the gash to his jaw.

Chris flew into Dublin later on Tuesday and spent some hours in the Ulster Hospital where his face and leg were x-rayed again. This time he did get some much-needed painkillers before going home to recuperate with his parents who have no involvement at all with horses.

“I learned to ride with Colin McBratney and Brian Hamilton, going to them on Saturdays and during school holidays. I was always small and light and when someone suggested to me at school that I should become a jockey I thought that sounded like a great idea and went to RACE in Kildare from where I got a job with Willie Mullins.

“I never raced on the track proper in Ireland but, from about 25 rides flapping, I rode three winners. I often told the lads back home that riding in Merano was a bit like flapping but with Grand National fences in the way!

“From Willie’s, I went to Neil Mulholland in England as a conditional and rode four winners in the 2012/13 season. However, I was still very light and was advised to ride on the flat as an apprentice which I did and I managed to ride eight winners. I’ve gotten a bit heavier since which is why I’ve returned to the jumps and, once my leg is fixed, I will be looking for a position in a jumping yard.”