The Jockey winner of the Cheltenham Festival, Michael O’Sullivan, died of the injuries he suffered during a fall in Thurles on February 6, announced the Irish Lavabo (IHRB) regulatory board.
He was driving Wee Charlie for coach Gerard O’Leary and was one of the three dumpers at the final closure of the two -thousand race in pursuit of February 20.
The rest of the meeting was abandoned while the air ambulance arrived to take O’Sullivan to the hospital, and it was later confirmed that it was treated in the intensive care unit of the university hospital de Cork, where he had stayed since.
In a Sunday morning statement, the IHRB said: “On behalf of the O’Sullivan family, it is with deep sadness that the IHRB confirms the death of Michael O’Sullivan.
“The directors and staff of the IHRB wish to exercise their sincere condolences to Michael’s family, partner, friends, colleagues in the weighing hall and the wider race community at that time.”
O’Sullivan, widely considered one of the rising stars in the weighing room, directed the national marine towards the victory in the obstacle of the supreme novices in Cheltenham in 2023 and marked at the same meeting last year with Jazzy Matty in the obstacle of juvenile handicap of Boodles.
He made 90 winners on jumps in Ireland and five in Great Britain from just over 1,000 career rides.
O’Sullivan celebrates the victory of the French Navy in the obstacles of the Supreme Novices in Cheltenham
Dr. Jennifer Pugh, a head doctor of the IHRB, said: “Michael unfortunately died in the early hours of Sunday morning surrounded by his loving family at the Cork University Hospital.
“We appreciate our appreciation to multidisciplinary teams that provided the best of medical care in Michael, both on the racetrack and at the Cork university hospital.
“Michael’s family made the decision to give their organs in this incredibly difficult period, but in doing so, made a choice that will make a real difference for the lives of other patients and their families.
“I had the privilege of knowing Michael through his amateur career and his dedication, his modesty and kind nature have always made him one please.
“Michael’s success and his humility will have inspired a lot and I share the feeling of loss today with all those who knew him.”
Many members of the racing community showed up to X to broadcast their condolences, including British champion Jockey Harry Cobden, who said: “absolutely devastating news from Michael O’Sullivan. Sending my biggest condolences to his family and to his friends. “
Harry Skelton added: “Absolutely devastating news to hear Michael O’Sullivan are died. My thoughts are with his family, his friends. When you go to this door to run, you want to come back together, his ankle is now empty for All bad reasons, thinking of the whole Irish weighing room.
Peter Roe, the director general of Fairyhouse Racecourse, posted: “We all have a broken heart to hear about the death of Michael. It was a special day when he won his first year 1 in Fairyhouse. It was a Charming person who was a huge credit to his family, his friends and our industry.
The meeting of Sunday in Punhetown and the Irish point apparatus in Knockanard, Nenagh and Tinahely were all canceled as a brand of respect to Michael.
