Racing: Jockey Berry to be treated in Sydney

Jockey Nathan Berry has suffered a setback in his battle against Norse Syndrome in a Singapore hospital and his family has decided to bring him back to Sydney.

In a statement from the Australian Jockey's Association on Tuesday, Nathan's wife Whitney confirmed the complications to Nathan's condition.

"I cannot thank everyone enough for the amount of love and support you have all shown through this most difficult time in Nathan's and my life," said Whitney Berry.

"Nathan continued to improve over the weekend but it is with great sadness that I have to say his condition since, has had complications.

"Between myself, his team of doctors and members of both families, we have decided to bring Nathan home to Sydney as soon as we can.

"Nathan is my world and I don't know anyone who can fight this illness, like he is. Please now let us keep him in our thoughts and prayers," she said.

Berry, 23, has been hospitalised at Gleneagles Hospital since he collapsed and suffered a seizure at Kranji on March 18. The first diagnosis was viral encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain caused by a virus.

His twin brother Tommy and his father-in-law Glyn Schofield, both leading Sydney jockeys, flew back for the Rosehill Guineas meeting last Saturday and they returned to Singapore on Monday to join Whitney and Mrs Julie Berry at Nathan's bedside.

On Tuesday morning, fellow Sydney jockey Christian Reith flew to Singapore to give support to the families.

Berry commenced a four-month visiting jockey's licence in Singapore on March 1, and had ridden three winners, including a double for trainer Michael Freedman.

Note: Norse is an epileptic syndrome where patients are presented with fever, followed by convulsive status epilepticus - source neurology.org.

This article was published on April 2 in The New Paper.

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