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Only just heard the awful news about William F-P on the BBC this morning.

34 replies

standclear · 21/10/2015 08:32

I hope he is OK. Wishing him a speedy recovery. His poor family.

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gailforce1 · 21/10/2015 09:09

I saw this on fb on Monday and then saw it on BBC yesterday morning when they said he was stable. What was the update today?
Wishing him a speedy recovery, he has been part of the backbone of British eventing for so many years.

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Buttercup443 · 21/10/2015 09:39

What happened, I've not seen this?

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standclear · 21/10/2015 09:43

see here Buttercup

I think they won't know the extrent of the injury until he is woken up from sedation Sad Here's hoping the news is positive.

At least he should be getting very good care in a French hospital.

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tattychicken · 21/10/2015 09:45

Rotational fall at Le Lions D'angers on Sat, he's sedated and stable but no further news. Horse ok. Just seems such a long time with no news of improvement. I guess they're keeping him sedated to reduce swelling etc but I can't help feeling it's been a long time now, it's day 4 now....desperately hoping he's ok. Sad

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standclear · 21/10/2015 09:45

gailforce there's no further news on his official website. Just a message from Alice passing on thanks for everyone's support.

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standclear · 21/10/2015 09:47

Oh dear, I hadn't realised it was a rotational fall Tatty, presumably on a young horse.

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Buttercup443 · 21/10/2015 10:17

Thanks stand clear.

How very sad, wishing him a speedy recovery and also thinking of his family.

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tattychicken · 21/10/2015 10:36

Yes, in the 7 year old championship. A friend was there with her horse, said he was treated on the course for an hour. BUT, he's tough, he's in good hands. I just keep repeating that to myself.

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CQ · 21/10/2015 10:42

Was just talking to DH about this. I follow our local Headway charity on FB as my BIL suffered a head trauma earlier this year. Yesterday on their FB feed they posted a message of goodwill for William F-P which makes me think it must be a serious head injury.

From the little I know following BIL-s injury, they keep them in a medically induced coma for at least a week, to allow the brain swelling and bruising to subside. Then they gradually bring them out, if the response is good at each stage.

So horrible for all concerned, but hopefully being so fit will act in his favour.

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tattychicken · 21/10/2015 10:49

Thanks CQ, that timescale is helpful. If a week is usual then I can calm down about it being 4 days. Flowers

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standclear · 21/10/2015 11:02

Tatty oh dear, it certainly sounds serious if he was treated on the course for an hour but yes, thank you CQ, that is reassuring to know about the timescale.

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standclear · 21/10/2015 11:03

Hope your bil is making a good recovery now CQ

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SoundFury · 21/10/2015 11:06

Oh no Sad

I was very into riding in my younger years, and my parents live very close to his yard.

Wishing a speedy recovery Flowers

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standclear · 21/10/2015 17:25

The more I think about this, the more annoyed I am that there is so little media coverage about it actually. If this was a footballer, it would be plastered all over the news. It just shows how poor the media's support of our equestrian athletes is; he has won two silver and one bronze Olympic medals fhs, never mind all his other achievements.

Still, I suppose less media intrusion is better for his family.

Still hoping and praying he recovers well from this.

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tattychicken · 21/10/2015 17:28

They've just updated again, no change, sedated, under observation.

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tattychicken · 21/10/2015 17:29

I agree Stand, the last thing the family needs is hordes of press outside the hospital.

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Dapplegrey1 · 21/10/2015 17:36

Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery and sympathy to his family.
Standclear - I've often wondered about the lack of coverage equestrian sports receive - as you say, if it had been a footballer or a racing driver it would have been leading the news.
Even the tragic deaths of event riders barely make the papers.

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standclear · 21/10/2015 22:52

Agree Dapple think the BBC is particularly bad re: coverage; think it is possibly due to some ridiculous reverse snobbery.

Tatty here's hoping no news is good news for now

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Dismalfuckers · 21/10/2015 23:04

Horrible thing. Love Alice from the morning line too. Really hope he recovers, keeping all this from horse mad dd ??

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standclear · 21/10/2015 23:32

Dismal same here, keeping it from my dd too. Alice is (thankfully) a trooper.

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standclear · 21/10/2015 23:38

sorry, posted too soon, meant to say Alice (thankfully) a trooper, but I cannot imagine how she must be feeling atm.

Sending prayers and positive thoughts to them.

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carabos · 25/10/2015 16:47

We've heard today via a friend in racing circles that its going to be a long job. Don't want to say more than that. Hope he pulls through Sad.

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Wolfiefan · 25/10/2015 16:48

Oh God I hadn't heard this. Hoping for good news and thinking of his friends and family.

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OurBlanche · 25/10/2015 16:57

Carabos, we heard the same here, surrounded by eventing stables and many people talking about it. All thoughts with his family and friends.

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Eve · 25/10/2015 22:04

Oh dear Carabos, thought it might be bad but was hoping not. Haven't heard any chat yet though.

Met him a few times at events and he signed an autograph for a very young strstruck DS and was very kind to him.

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