Kieren Fallon yesterday revealed how close he came to having his career ended in a fall at Royal Ascot last month.

The British champion jockey, who still does not know how long he will be out of action, said he could have lost the use of his left arm in a four-horse pile-up in the Ascot Stakes.

Fallon told the Victor Chandler International website: "If it hadn't been for some very quick-thinking doctors I might not have a career to come back to. I now know just how serious the damage to my left shoulder was and that I was literally minutes away from losing the use of my left arm.

"Because I'd lost the power of my left hand they thought it was due to the massive bruising which was pressing on my nerves and stopping circulation.

"Thank God one of them said that it would be taking a big chance waiting for the swelling to go down before operating because if the nerves were by any chance severed they'd be dead very soon and lost forever." Although Fallon is still in pain he is set to make a complete recovery and is looking forward to returning to race-riding.

"If the right decisions hadn't been made very quickly I would be in a lot of trouble now," he said.

"As it is, I've got complete movement in the hand and it's only a matter of time before everything heals properly.

"It's okay when I'm standing or sitting but when I lie down it's excruciating and I'm up at all hours making tea and watching anything that's on the telly," he added.