Irish jockey JT McNamara, who was paralysed after a fall at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival, has died aged 41.
McNamara, a father-of-three, was a leading amateur rider before being seriously injured.He fractured two vertebrae in his neck after being thrown from his horse Galaxy Rock in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup on 14 March, 2013.
He moved back home to Limerick in 2014 after being discharged from the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre.
Adrian McGoldrick, senior medical officer for the Irish Turf Club, said: "I've just spoken to his wife Caroline and I can confirm JT passed away peacefully during the night."
McNamara rode four winners at the Cheltenham Festival, including guiding Teaforthree to victory in the 2012 National Hunt Chase.
He won the same race in 2002 on Rith Dubh, was successful in the Cross-Country Chase with Spot Thedifference three years later and won the 2007 Fox Hunter Chase on Drombeag.
JT McNamara will be remembered for his distinguished, stylish career in the saddle and his formidable strength of character after serious injury.
The jockey had told friends he intended to retire in the summer of 2013 but a fateful fall that March prematurely ended his career.
Weighing room colleagues were in shock and the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following day was run against a sombre backdrop.
A plaque above where he sat at Cheltenham celebrates his 16 winners at the track, including four at the Festival.
When Bruce Springsteen played in Limerick, he dedicated his song My Hometown to the stricken jockey. He was a much-loved and respected figure.
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