Michael O'Sullivan's cause of death revealed after star's horror fall from horse
Cheltenham festival-winning jockey Michael O'Sullivan's cause of death has been revealed. The 24-year-old rising talent was seriously injured at Thurles in February when his mount Wee Charlie was one of three fallers at the final fence of a chase.
The rest of the meeting was abandoned as O'Sullivan was airlifted to Cork University Hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit where he died 10 days later after fighting what his parents described as a 'trojan battle' to recover, days before his 25th birthday.
O'Sullivan emerged from Ireland's point-to-point circuit to become champion conditional and shortly after turning professional rode his first Cheltenham Festival winner when Marine Nationale landed the 2023 Supreme Novices' Hurdle, going on to completing a double on the day on Jazzy Matty.
An inquest held on Thursday at Cork Coroner's Court heard that the jockey died of a severe traumatic brain injury, complicated by brain swelling with cerebral infarction, due to a horse riding accident.
Brief evidence was given by Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, as to the cause of the death following a post-mortem carried out on Mr O'Sullivan at Cork City Mortuary a day after his death.
Sergeant Aisling Murphy requested an adjournment of the inquest to facilitate "preparatory work", according to a report in the Irish Mirror.
Cork City Coroner Philip Comyn said the inquest was being opened for the purpose of hearing medical evidence on the cause of death so that a death certificate could be issued to the family of the deceased.
Inspector Justin Walsh from the Health and Safety Authority confirmed that their investigation into the death is yet to be completed. A full hearing of the case will take place at a later date.
In March an official report into the incident at Thurles, carried out by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board found no evidence of human error, equipment failure or other factors.
The report said: 'The accident unfolded as five horses and jockeys were involved in a chain reaction of falls at the final fence. Michael O'Sullivan suffered severe head injuries and, despite immediate emergency response and expert care at Cork University Hospital, passed away on 16 February.
'Wee Charlie was euthanised on 10 February due to a leg injury sustained in the fall. The other jockeys and horses involved sustained no significant injuries.
'The incident was attributed to the inherent risks of National Hunt racing, with a series of independent falls triggering an unavoidable chain reaction.'
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