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Brazilian jockey Leandro Henrique, 27, passed away this Wednesday, three days after falling from his horse during a race at the Jockey Club Brasileiro in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the equestrian institution reported.
Henrique had been hospitalized in serious condition since last Sunday, when he suffered an unfortunate fall in the second race of the Jockey's day.
The horse went off the track and jumped the fences, which caused the jockey to fall, leading to a traumatic brain injury and an open hip fracture, according to local media.
He underwent surgery at a public hospital and was transferred to a private clinic days later, but he did not survive his injuries and passed away early this morning.
Born in the state of Pernambuco, in the impoverished Brazilian northeast, Henrique began in the equestrian world at just nine years old at a school in Recife and specialized in horse racing in a country dominated by soccer.
At just 16 years old, he won the jockey statistics for the 2016/2017 season in his first year at the Gávea Hippodrome in Rio, an unprecedented feat for a student of the Jockey Club Brasileiro's School of Equestrian Professionals.
From then on, he achieved important victories in various races throughout the South American country.
"Leandro leaves behind a distinguished career in Brazilian equestrianism and deep sadness among family, friends, professionals, and fans of this sport," the Jockey Club Brasileiro stated in a note, expressing its "immense pain" over the passing of the victorious jockey from Pernambuco.
[Publicidad]