Jockey dies after three days in coma
Apprentice jockey Philip Cheng Cheong-tat died in hospital yesterday, three days after a fall at Sha Tin racecourse that left him on a life-support system.
Cheng, 20, died in the Prince of Wales Hospital just after 5pm. He had been in a coma since the accident and a subsequent operation on Saturday night.
His family were with him when he died, with his mother having arrived from Canada the previous day to join her husband, another son and a daughter.
Cheng, who had ridden 28 career winners, was one of the most popular and promising local apprentices. Jockey Club chief executive Lawrence Wong Chi-kwong said: 'We are liaising with the family to see in what way we can assist them at this very sad time.'
Club chairman Alan Li Fook-sum said: 'I speak for the Board of Stewards and everyone associated with the club in saying that our deepest condolences go out to Philip's family. His outstanding record as an apprentice jockey speaks for itself. He was a true winner.'
It was the second fatality in local racing in 19 months following the death of female apprentice Willy W. Y. Kan in March last year.
An inquiry into Cheng's fall held yesterday exonerated the jockeys who rode in the race and said the state of the track had played no part.
