Death-defying May back in driver’s seat
Less than six months after he suffered a horrific medical event where he ‘‘conked it’’ on live TV, star harness racing driver Ricky May has completed a remarkable comeback.
It might not have been the fairytale return the entire harness racing community had hoped for but just to see the champion reinsman back on track for the first time since that infamous day in January was a win for everyone at Addington in Christchurch last night.
A few months ago, May thought he might never return to driving and anyone who watched the Omakau races in January would probably have agreed.
May was leading a race at Omakau on January 3 when he collapsed in the sulky on live TV and in front of a holiday crowd of thousands.
The horrific scene had many fearing the worst for the popular harness racing figure from Methven.
The race was called off as an unconscious May eventually fell onto the track. One of the first to him was harness racing driver Ellie Barron, who May has said saved his life.
Barron was not driving in the race but with a medical background as a qualified physiotherapist, she sprung into action. When she reached May, he was unconscious with no heartbeat.
May told TVNZ this week his heart stopped for eight minutes. ‘‘When Ellie arrived I’d definitely conked it,’’ he told Trackside TV earlier this year.
Barron performed CPR before May was flown to Dunedin hospital and eventually, he made a full recovery.
In an interview before race one last night – aptly named the Welcome Back Ricky May Trot – May told Trackside TV he only got his final clearance to return on Monday.
‘‘I’ve done everything I probably shouldn’t have to be fair,’’ May said. ‘‘He [the specialist] told me, when it first happened, that I’m not allowed to weld, I’m not allowed to chainsaw, I’m not allowed to drive on the road but I said: ‘I’ve broken all them rules’’’.
‘‘I said to him: ‘There’s nothing wrong with me’ ’’.
After the incident in January, May was diagnosed with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy – a condition where the heart muscles thicken even though the heart itself is healthy. To help deal with the condition, May has had surgery to have a cardioverter defibrillator implanted in his chest.
May, who has won the New Zealand Trotting Cup seven times, finished 11th in the first race last night.
It was hoped May might get the 2950th race win of his career in race three where he drove the favourite Skippys Delight but he finished third.