A dyed-in-the-wool racing man from a well known family has approached the Sporting Post with a request to publish an appeal for assistance with medical expenses as he desperately tries to save his injured foot in order to allow him to continue to work with horses.
Born to ride! Sean on a Wolf Power lookalike – almost!(Pic – Supplied)
Horseracing is in the blood of the 55 year old Sean Paterson – his Mom was a successful trainer and his Dad a well-known jockey, trainer and stipe in his time.
Sean joined the South African Jockey Academy on 3 January 1985.
“In 1986, whilst in my second year at the academy I suffered a racing accident whilst leading one of my rides in, it freshed, swung round kicking me on the forehead resulting in emergency surgery to remove my frontal skull bone, a long stay in hospital and a silicone plate being inserted under the skin in place of my shattered forehead bone.With the long recovery time my apprenticeship fell away and I decided to return to school to finish my exams,” he tells.
Once Sean completed his exams he travelled to the UK for 2 years to work under the well know British trainer PJ Walwyn in the village of Lambourn on the Berkshire Downs.
Having completed his 2 years internship with PJ Walwyn, he returned to Zimbabwe to assist in the running of his parents yard in Harare.
In 1994, the Paterson Racing Yard was sold and he travelled to Sydney, Australia and returned to work here for the likes of the late Jane Thomas, Tony Millard, Alec Laird.
Sean in action at Randjesfontein recently before his injury (Pic – Supplied)
Stints in Hong Kong, Spain, France and Dubai followed, before he returned to SA about 15 years ago.
Sean now faces a crisis and told the Sporting Post that in 2023 he was kicked on the heel whilst work riding at Randjesfontein, causing his heel bone to splinter.
“I was unaware of the seriousness or magnitude of this injury until a piece of the splintered bone began to move. After attending one of the top Podiatrists in Johannesburg, a decision was made to remove the loose bone shards, which then led to a pressure wound developing on the upper side of my foot. I was advised to attend a Vascular Surgeon who recommended surgery following the results from sonar imaging,” explains Sean.
Following the removal of the bone shards the pressure wound turned into a full blown internal fungal infection.
“My first surgery was done in July 2024, by a Reconstructive Surgeon who ‘debrided’ my wound under general anesthetic, removing all dead and unhealthy tissue in order to assist the wound to heal. Following the operation, my Vascular Surgeon advised that in order to heal completely she advised surgery to insert 3 stents.These stents, two in my foot and one in my groin, would facilitate the blood flow to reach and heal the wounds.”
Sean and his wife Louisa (Pic – Supplied)
The Vascular Surgeon recommended immediate surgery and supplied a quote for the initial private treatment. It was R139 000 with aftercare costs including rehabilitation, medication and a wound nurse estimated at approximately R30 000.
“As I do not have private medical cover, I attended Steve Biko hospital to try and get the stents inserted through the public hospital system. The soonest I can get an appointment, with the resident Cardiovascular Specialist is two to three months, before being put on the waiting list for the operation to insert the stents. The concern now is that without immediate attention and surgery I may lose my foot, or worse,” he laments.
Sean stresses that this appeal is purely for medical expenses in order that he may save his foot and continue working with his beloved horses. He adds that any help will be appreciated.
If you are in a position to help, Sean is registered on the backabuddy platform http://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/seanpaterson-save-a-foot
Ed – anybody who wishes to contact the family directly can email Alyson Wynne on email: [email protected], or email [email protected] for her whatsapp contact.
