Community rallies around track rider after critical injury

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Community members have rallied around a Murray Bridge teenager who remains unconscious in hospital after a fall from a racehorse last week.

Aspiring jockey Kayla Bosworth, 18, was doing track work at Murray Bridge Racing Club last Tuesday when she fell, landed on her head and suffered a brain injury.

She was airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in an induced coma.

In a statement, Racing SA said the young rider was receiving the best possible care, and that they would provide her family with “whatever support they need”.

That has included covering the cost of feed for her two horses.

However, the peak body declined to comment exactly on what had happened, as the incident was being investigated by Safe Work SA.

By Monday of this week Ms Bosworth had made slight progress, her mum Sharni said in a post to a community Facebook group.

“She’s becoming more awake and looking around, squeezes our hands and (give an) occasional smile,” she said.

However, she remained on a feeding tube and could not yet speak.

“Kayla is in for a long road of recovery,” her mum said.

“We don’t know how much she will ever recover, but she’s the most strongest girl and determined.”

Fundraiser launched to help her family

In the meantime, an online fundraiser launched by a friend, Jessica Holt, has so far raised more than $10,000 towards the cost of feeding and agisting Ms Bosworth’s horses, and helping her pregnant mum, while she recovers.

“Kayla’s mum ... is doing it tough financially and is very worried she won’t be able to afford much to help Kayla in any way,”Ms Holt said.

“At this stage it looks like the recovery road for Kayla is no doubt going to be a long and costly one. “Workcover can only pay for so much and doesn’t help out the rest of Kayla’s support network, so if you can help, please don’t hesitate.”

Federal MP Tony Pasin is among those who have got behind the fundraiser – he urged everyone to “rally around one of our own”.

‘She was about to be signed as an apprentice jockey’

Ms Bosworth finished year 12 at Murray Bridge High School in 2024, had started her career as a stablehand and track rider, and dreamed of becoming a jockey.

“She was lucky to land a full-time job doing what she loves,” her mum said.

“Starts at 4am, six days a week – she loved it and had so much passion and dedication.

“Kayla only told me a few days before (the accident) she was about to be signed as an apprentice jockey; she was so happy all the hard work she put in she was about to reach her dream.”

Her accident was the second time in four months a local rider had suffered a serious injury during training.

Apprentice Rachael Kraemer was also airlifted to hospital in September after falling from a horse at a property in Murray Bridge’s west.

• Donate: www.gofundme.com.