Jockey's harrowing ordeal after being stomped on by horse
Less than two weeks ago, doctors were convinced Natasha Faithfull was close to death.
The 25-year-old jockey was riding her horse on the beach in Albany, south of Perth, when it became “spooked” by a bike.
Ms Faithfull was thrown from the 500 kilogram animal, which then stomped on her.
“I landed on my back and [was] struggling to breathe, and there was just blood coming out my mouth,” she told Seven News.
She was flown to Perth with an extensive list of injuries, in excruciating pain, and having difficulty breathing.
Natasha had broken six ribs, punctured her lung, fractured three vertebrae, broken her collarbone and scapula, and had sustained a grade two tear to her liver.
The day before the fall, she rode a winning double at a meet in Albany.
But the next day, her incredible high turned to a life-threatening low.
She spent the next six days at Royal Perth Hospital as messages of love and support came flooding in from friends and family.
While she still has some way to go in her recovery, the young jockey says she is determined to get back on the track.
“I’m really lucky I’m going to make a full recovery and I’m going to be able to do what I love,” she said.
