WALTER SWINBURN received a welcome boost to his recovery from injury by being allowed to leave intensive care. The jockey has been making steady progress since receiving head injuries, broken ribs and bruised lungs in fall from Liffey River at Sha Tin a week last Sunday.
Bernhard Hargreaves, who is playing host to Swinburn's parents during their stay in Hong Kong, said: "Walter is out of intensive care, and he is not out having to glance over his shoulder to see if he might have to go back.
"He is making progress and improving day by day. I saw him myself this morning and he is fine - well on the way to recovery. Hopefully he will be out of hospital in a week or a week and a half."
Now the jockey, a keen cricket fan, is easing the boredom of recuperation by watching televised coverage of the World Cup.
Hargreaves, the chief stipendiary steward of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, added: "He is in good order and is starting to get frustrated at the whole thing, which is always a good sign. When he comes out, he can stay with me until he feels ready to return home."
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