Freddy Tylicki takes to Twitter to talk about the ‘long road in front of me’
Stricken jockey left paralysed from waist down sends message from hospital bed thanking racing for all its support
FREDDY TYLICKI has taken to social media for the first time to talk about the "long road in front of me".
The Newmarket jockey was left paralysed from the waist down following a fall last month.
Tylicki was involved in a four-horse pile-up at Kempton and is still in intensive care.
On Monday he posted a message on Twitter to thank the racing community for their support - his first public communication since the incident.
Freddy Tylicki spoke on Monday night of the “long road in front of me” following his fall at Kempton Park on October 31.
German-born Tylicki was airlifted to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, where it later emerged he had suffered a T7 paralysis, meaning he has movement in the upper half of his body but not the lower.
Writing on his Twitter account, Tylicki said: “Struggling and fighting! Thank you every single one for all the support! Here is to a long road in front of me! Much love everyone!”
An online fundraising page set up by At The Races presenter Matt Chapman has raised at least £330,000 for the rider.
Newly-crowned champion Flat jockey Jim Crowley escaped the incident with a broken nose, while Ted Durcan was left with a broken ankle. Steve Drowne was unscathed.
Tylicki's plight stunned the racing world. Franki Dettori said he would swap all his Breeders’ Cup wins to hear some good news about his stricken pal, who built his initial success on the Flat.
In 2009 Tylicki was British flat racing Champion Apprentice, narrowly beating Dave Probert - who was suspended for the final day of racing - to the title, when he also won the Lester Award for Apprentice Jockey of the Year.
Tylicki donated his trophy to the family of fellow apprentice Jamie Kyne, who had recently died in a house fire.
His Polish-born father Andrzey Tylicki was three times champion jockey in Germany.