I was knocked out when two horses hit me at the Grand National – I’m traumatised and someone could have died
A MUM has spoken of her horror after she was knocked unconscious when two horses crashed into her at the Grand National – after protesters blocked the racecourse’s exits.
Jo Nagra, 44, has been left in so much pain she can’t walk three days after Recite a Prayer and Galvin hurtled towards her at full speed.
Their jockeys had been unseated at the first fence on Saturday before the horses veered off the turf.
They collided with racegoer Jo, who had been standing next to the track, crushing her against a concrete bollard.
She’d been at Aintree, Merseyside, with her 10-year-old son Adan, daughter Aman, 28, and husband Harj, 53, to celebrate his birthday.
Jo, of Birmingham, West Mids, has revealed how they were prevented from leaving due to protesters trying to storm the world-famous racecourse.
She said: “We’d have been able to get to our car before the race started if they hadn’t been there. It’s not safe.”
Jo added: “Although I sympathise with them to an extent, as we were quite shocked at how many horses died, they need to think about the impact their disruption can have.’’
She explained: “We were walking back to our vehicle at the Steeplechase car park but we weren’t allowed to leave.
“They’d had to lock it all down due to protesters trying to get in.
“Instead, we were told to wait in a small area next to the fence while the race was on.
“We should never have been allowed to stand there.
“I remember seeing the horses hurtling towards me.
“It was terrifying.”
Jo was knocked unconscious and was rushed to Aintree Hospital.
She still has no feeling in her foot and was given crutches, but says it’s too painful to walk.
Jo, who is waiting to find out if she’s suffered permanent tissue damage to her legs, added: “I remember waking up and hearing my daughter screaming.
“The whole family is traumatised.
“It’s a serious health and safety issue and somebody could have died.
“I’m just so grateful they hit me and not my kids.”
An Aintree Racecourse spokesman confirmed last night they were looking into the matter.