Jockeys have miracle escape

Top jockeys Frankie Dettori and Ray Cochrane had a "miracle" escape yesterday when their light aircraft crashed in flames at Newmarket racecourse, killing the pilot.

Dettori (29) fractured his right ankle and injured a thumb, and was described last night as being in a comfortable condition in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge.

At Cochrane's request, the hospital confirmed just that he was conscious upon arrival and that his wife was with him. Doctors had decided that Dettori and Co Down-born Cochrane (42) would remain there overnight for observation.

Both men had taken off in an American-built, twin-engined Piper Seneca aircraft bound for yesterday's meeting at Goodwood. As fire crews tackled the blazing aircraft, both jockeys were taken by helicopter to Addenbrookes.

"It would certainly seem to be a miracle that anyone got out of it alive," said Suffolk Police Inspector Steve Brown.

The plane had taken off from a spot around the July Racecourse grandstand at around 12.30 p.m. and crashed about a mile away between the July and Rowley Mile courses.

Nick Lees, clerk of the course at Newmarket, was one of the first on the scene: "When I arrived there was a light aircraft on the grass, on fire, broken up. Frankie Dettori and Ray Cochrane were about 50 yards away, huddled up together.

"I spoke to them at length and both were conscious. Frankie was using his mobile phone to ring his wife who arrived later. Ray had a burnt face and hair - he was complaining of pain to his head and his left hand."

Dettori's commercial agent, Peter Burrell, said after visiting the jockey in hospital: "He is pretty smashed up and has cuts to his leg, head, arms - numerous cuts on his head. "Ray helped Frankie get out of the plane, then he went back to get the pilot, but by that time the plane was on fire. "They got out of the back through the little hole where you put the luggage in. Ray screamed at Frankie to get out and then tried to get back to the pilot but by then the plane was on fire."

Dettori was due to fly to Japan last night where he was set to ride Diktat in the Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo on Sunday. He will also miss the ride on leading Derby hope Best Of The Bests tomorrow week.

The crash comes just a month after another famous sportsman - motor racing driver David Coulthard - survived a fatal air accident. Last year, top American golfer Payne Stewart and four others were killed in a Lear jet crash in South Dakota, US.