'He's really fighting' - Chester Williams recovering from bleed on the brain

Jockey Chester Williams is out of an induced coma and making progress from a bleed on the brain suffered from a fall on the gallops last month.

His mother Jane – who he rides for and plays a leading role in her training operation in George Nympton, North Devon – says he is now conscious, able to feed himself and use his phone. She added that he is "really fighting" despite finding the long recovery process difficult.

The conditional jockey was moved to intensive care at Plymouth Hospital following a riding injury sustained to his head on September 13.

Williams, 25, was then transferred to the neurosurgery unit and following some positive progress, is now recovering at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple much closer to home, meaning his family avoid a 170-mile round trip to visit him.

"Chester moved from Plymouth to Barnstaple about a week ago and is improving all the time," Jane Williams said. "He has just started physiotherapy, has done some exercise and went in the hydropool this week. We’re making slow progress but it’ll take a very long time.

"He can now feed himself and use his telephone, even though not everything makes complete sense. He’s frustrated and he’s finding the days are dragging. It’s pretty grim but he’s really fighting."

Chester Williams: rode 23 winners last seasonCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Williams has recently turned to the likes of Ciaran Gethings, David Noonan and claimer Jack Wildman with her conditional jockey on the sidelines.

Earlier in the year, the trainer praised her son for bringing a "huge amount" to the team, particularly in helping out with race planning. Last season was also his best as a rider with 23 winners.

The trainer has also been touched by the amount of messages of support she has received in the last month and was extremely thankful.

"We have had so many messages and I think they have really helped," she said. "Everybody has been asking me and I’m touched by how many people care.

"I really want to say thank you for the amount of love and prayers we have received, the support has been fantastic and really shows how much of a close knit community racing is. It shows how much genuine care there is for the jockeys and riders who put their health at risk doing this job."

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