Holly no stranger to adversity

SURVIVOR: Manawatu apprentice Holly Andrew is no stranger to adversity and is already on the recovery train after a nasty fall at Waverley on Sunday. PHOTO/Race Images

The resilience of apprentice jockey Holly Andrew is simply not in question.

The 26-year-old is already out of hospital after being airlifted by helicopter to Palmerston North following a fall at the Waverley races on Sunday.

The Kevin Gray apprentice had a nasty fall in the second last race and had everyone on course concerned while paramedics worked on her as the minutes continued to click by.

As she lay on the track around the 700-metre mark, news filtered through that the 26-year-old may have sustained serious injuries and was suffering tingling and numbness in both arms and legs.

A helicopter was called eventually arriving some 30 minutes later.

Raceday veterinarian Bill Stewart drove Gray to the accident scene to be with his apprentice during the wait for the helicopter.

"I think Holly initially thought she was worse than she actually was and the paramedics were playing it safe," Gray said from his Awahuri base near Palmerston North yesterday.

"She began to calm down a bit when I arrived. There was some thought she may have broken her shoulder as well, but it was only bruised. They treated her at the scene and in hospital and she was released yesterday (Monday)."

Ironically, Andrew was booked in for surgery at Palmerston North Hospital on Monday morning anyway to have steel rods removed from injuries sustained in 2013. The Waverley meeting was to be her last for eight weeks as she recovered.

In September 2013, Andrew was a passenger in a van that went off the road and hit a power pole.

There wasn't any alcohol or speed involved and she was asleep at the time, but it hit on her side and broke both femurs cleanly in half, fractured both patellas and broke her left ankle and right foot. Her front teeth were also knocked out and she had 20 stitches in her face.

Despite her injuries, Andrew said she never had any doubts about a full recovery.

"I decided to do the rehabilitation myself. I did one session through the hospital, but it wasn't for me so I got on the treadmill, and the surgeon said my healing time was very impressive. They usually estimate about two years and within 18 months I was ready to go back to work," Andrew said following her recovery.

Gray said surgeons had delayed plans to remove the steel rods until January 19.

In the meantime, Gray said she was likely to receive a medical clearance to resume race riding by the end of next week.

"She's tough, I'll say that."