Racing: Australian jockey dies after emergency flight home

SYDNEY - Australian jockey Nathan Berry has died in hospital just hours after he was flown home from Singapore for treatment for an epilepsy-related illness, racing authorities said Thursday.

Berry, 23, had been seriously ill in hospital since he collapsed at Kranji racecourse on March 18 during a four-month riding contract in Singapore.

His death was confirmed by Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys.

"The entire racing industry is extremely distraught with the news of Nathan's passing," V'landys said in a statement.

"Sadness is not a sufficient word to describe this tragedy. We are all very distressed and could not imagine the grief the family must be going through."

Berry was placed in an induced coma last week after being diagnosed with NORSE syndrome, an acute condition related to epilepsy.

His family, including his wife Whitney who he married earlier this year, announced last weekend that Berry's condition had deteriorated.

They made the decision to bring him home on a special medical flight on Thursday.

Berry was a top Sydney jockey whose biggest win came in the Magic Millions Classic aboard Unencumbered in January.