Michael O'Sullivan's family 'incredibly proud' of the 'extraordinary young man he had become' after tragic death aged 24

Michael O'Sullivan's family have paid tribute to the "extraordinary man he had become" after the world of racing was plunged into despair when it emerged on Sunday morning that the Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey had tragically died as a result of the head injuries he sustained in a fall at Thurles on February 6.

His death in the early hours of Sunday came just five days shy of his 25th birthday this Friday.

O'Sullivan had been in an induced coma in the intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital, having been airlifted after a last-fence fall from Wee Charlie in a 2m handicap chase at the Tipperary track, at which point the remainder of the card was abandoned. He never regained consciousness and died surrounded by his family.

"Michael had accomplished so much in his short life," a eulogy published by the family on RIP.ie said. "As a family we are so incredibly proud not only of his achievements in the saddle, but of the extraordinary young man he had become. He was full of kindness, integrity, ambition and love, always striving to be the best person he could be. Michael will be very sadly missed by Bernie, William, Alan, grandmother 'Granny Mary', aunts, uncles, cousins, Charlotte, his many friends as well as his weigh-room colleagues and the wider racing community."

• Tribute: Michael O'Sullivan was an overwhelmingly likeable human, a horseman and a gentleman who had the world at his feet 
• Barry Connell: 'The more we saw of Michael the more we liked him - we had a magical time together' 
• 'Michael O'Sullivan was a hero, extremely intelligent and a beautiful young man' - social media tributes flow in 

Announcing the news earlier on Sunday, Jennifer Pugh, chief medical officer of the IHRB, said: “Michael sadly passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning surrounded by his loving family in Cork University Hospital.

“We extend our appreciation to the multidisciplinary teams who provided the best of medical care to Michael, both on the racecourse and in Cork University Hospital.

“Michael’s family took the decision to donate his organs at this incredibly difficult time, but in doing so made a choice that will make a real difference to the lives of other patients and their families.

“I have had the privilege of knowing Michael through his amateur and professional career, and his dedication, modesty and kind nature always made him a pleasure to be around. Michael’s success and humility will have inspired many and I share the feeling of loss today with all those who knew him.

“Michael’s family would like to reiterate their gratefulness for all the support they have received in the last couple of days and express their appreciation to the local community and racing family. The O’Sullivan family have asked for privacy at this time.”

Michael O'Sullivan celebrates Marine Nationale winning the SupremeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Sullivan had emerged as one of the brightest young talents in the weighing room in recent years, enjoying a crowning moment when guiding Marine Nationale to Supreme Novices' Hurdle glory at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. That was one of three Grade 1 winners he rode after turning professional in the autumn of 2022.

Having ridden Marine Nationale to a pair of bumper wins for Barry Connell, he elected to join the paid ranks with Connell's support and the partnership enjoyed a number of memorable days before they went their separate ways in November. He had since been plying his trade in the freelance ranks, including being on Willie Mullins' extended roster.

On Sunday, the champion trainer expressed his heartfelt regret at the loss of the talented young rider. 

"We are devastated by the news," said Mullins. "Michael had been riding out here for the past three years, since he was a 7lb claimer. He'd become an integral part of our operation and his role was only going to get bigger. He was a credit to his family. 

"He was a natural horseman and a great rider who loved the game and was going to be a big name. He was very modest and understated. He put his head down and grafted and took every chance he got. He rode a great race to win on Embassy Gardens at Tramore for us. 

"He was working his way up the pecking order and had rides for us most days. He certainly would have been very much in our plans for Cheltenham. He's a big loss to racing – he had the talent to go the whole way.”

An immensely popular, charismatic and mature young man from Lombardstown near Mallow in north County Cork who attained an Agricultural Science degree at University College Dublin before devoting himself to riding, O'Sullivan hails from a family immersed in racing. 

Minute's silences were held at Musselburgh (pictured) and Lingfield on Sunday afternoonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

His father William was an accomplished amateur rider who rode Lovely Citizen to a famous Cheltenham Festival success in the 1991 Foxhunter Chase. Lovely Citizen was trained by William's brother Eugene, who replicated the feat by producing It Came To Pass to win the same race under his daughter Maxine in 2020. More recently, Eugene has been known for producing Corbetts Cross, who was runner-up in the big race at Ascot on Saturday. Michael’s brother Alan also rides as an amateur. 

As a mark of respect, Sunday's meeting at Punchestown was cancelled along with the point-to-point fixtures at Knockanard, Nenagh and Tinahely. 

Champion jockey Paul Townend echoed Mullins' sentiments in speaking of his weighing-room colleague and friend.

“He left a positive mark on everyone and it was a privilege to know him for such a short amount of time," said Townend. 

"He was a good friend and we're lucky to have known him. He had a very intelligent wit away from his professional side and you wouldn't have got one over on him too quickly. He was professional and intelligent in his approach to everything. 

Michsel O'Sullivan returning to the winner's enclosure at Listowel last year after winning on Jet Setting JimCredit: Patrick McCann

"As a rider, he was competitive and he would do his homework. He would study everything and he was just a natural talent. The way he was able to transfer his ability to race-riding in Ireland, Britain and France, three different styles of racing, just took a lot of talent. He had a big personality and will be a loss to everyone in the weighing room.”

Trainer and former broadcaster Ted Walsh also spoke glowingly of O'Sullivan's personality and empathised with the plight of those closest to him now left behind. 

“It was a privilege to have known him," he said. "He was a fine and very talented young man who knew where he was going. 

"He's a huge loss to everyone and in particular his family. Our lives will move on but theirs will be difficult for a long time. He was bright as a button and a very pleasant young man to encounter. He handled himself extremely well and was a young fella that had a bit extra about him. He was very dedicated to his craft. Anyone would have been proud to call him one of theirs.”

A jubilant MIchael O'Sullivan returns to the Cheltenham winner's enclosure after the 2023 Supreme Novices' HurdleCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Sullivan's death resonated to the highest office in the country, with the Taoiseach (prime minister) Micheal Martin also offering his condolences. 

"Deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of jockey Michael O’Sullivan," said Martin. "A talented rider who inspired many. My sincere sympathies go to Michael’s family, his friends and colleagues in the racing world." 

Darragh O’Loughlin, CEO of the IHRB, said: “Michael was an exceptionally talented young rider who was always popular in the weighroom. Michael will be deeply missed by everyone in racing who had the pleasure of knowing him.

“Our hearts go out to Michael’s family, especially his parents Bernadette and William, and his brother Alan, who will feel his loss most keenly.”

Michael O'Sullivan wins the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on Jazzy Matty in 2023Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The O'Sullivans are one of the most decorated and respected families on the point-to-point scene, and Michael was champion novice rider in the sphere in 2019.

His exploits since graduating from that realm and taking the plunge in the paid ranks had been a source of great pride for them, with a glittering CV also featuring the 2023 champion conditional jockeys' title at the end of his first season as a professional. 

Paul Hensey, CEO of the Association of Irish Racecourses, said: "We're deeply saddened by the tragic news of jockey Michael O'Sullivan's passing. This heartbreaking loss has cast a long shadow over our entire racing community. 

"On behalf of the Association of Irish Racecourses, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to Michael’s family. Michael was not only a talented jockey but a cherished member of the horseracing family. His dedication to the sport and his unwavering passion for racing inspired many. 

"We extend our deepest sympathies to Michael’s family, friends and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. The loss of a life so vibrant and full of promise is felt deeply across all 26 Irish racecourses, the wider racing community and beyond. Our thoughts and prayers are with Michael's loved ones and his many friends and colleagues."

O'Sullivan turned professional in 2022 and was destined for great thingsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Sullivan's family have been left bereft with grief as his nascent journey came to a premature end following the Thurles fall, an incident that saw two other horses fall independently and two more unseat their riders after being impeded.

O'Sullivan is the first jockey to die following a fall at an Irish track since Jack Tyner passed away in 2011 as a result of injuries he sustained in a point-to-point, while in 2016 John Thomas McNamara died three years after the Cheltenham Festival fall that left him paralysed from the neck down. 

All three were deeply rooted in the point-to-point community, so this latest catastrophe is another terrible blow to those at the grassroots of the industry, following as it does the appalling 2022 death of 13-year-old Jack de Bromhead after a fall at Glenbeigh horse and pony races on Rossbeigh Strand in County Kerry. It is 22 years since the death of 25-year-old Kieran Kelly, another Cheltenham Festival-winning rider, following a fall at Kilbeggan.

In all, O'Sullivan rode 95 winners in Britain and Ireland – plus a handful in France recently as a result of his association with Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm – since his first racecourse win on Wilcosdiana, who was trained by his uncle Eugene, in the hunter chase held in Tyner's memory at Cork in April 2018.

O'Sullivan's death will cast an enormous pall over the racing world in Ireland, Britain, France and beyond. 

A statement from the Professional Jockeys Association said: "The PJA and its members are heartbroken to hear that jockey Michael O’Sullivan has died following injuries sustained in a fall at Thurles. 

"Michael was a very talented, popular rider and, with the weighing room being such a close-knit community, his passing will leave a profound sense of loss in Britain as well as Ireland. Our thoughts and prayers are with Michael’s family and friends, his weighing-room colleagues and the Irish racing community."

Acting BHA chief executive Brant Dunshea said: “I was devastated to learn of the death of Michael O’Sullivan and speak for all involved in British racing when I say that our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and friends at this awful time. 

“The bonds between the British and Irish racing communities are deep and this unspeakable tragedy will doubtless have a profound impact on many people on both sides of the Irish Sea. This has been an extremely difficult week for many in the racing family; support is available and I would urge anybody who feels they need this to reach out to their employer or representative body.”

O'Sullivan will lie in repose at Currabower, Lombardstown, Mallow (P51 HH93) on Tuesday from 2pm to 7pm, followed by prayers. His funeral mass will take place at St John the Baptist Church, Glantane on Wednesday at 12pm, following which he will be laid to rest in St John's Cemetery, Glantane.

Read more:

• Tribute: Michael O'Sullivan was an overwhelmingly likeable human, a horseman and a gentleman who had the world at his feet 
• 'Michael O'Sullivan was a hero, extremely intelligent and a beautiful young man' - social media tributes flow in 
• Barry Connell: 'The more we saw of Michael the more we liked him - we had a magical time together'