British jockey Campbell Gillies dies while on vacation in Greece
Gillies led Brindisi Breeze to victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham this year, just three short months ago.
The 21-year-old champion jockey, Campbell Gillies was on holiday on the Ionian island of Corfu when he died tragically the day prior to his 22nd birthday.
According to a report Tuesday in The Guardian, the jump jockey had been killed in a swimming pool accident .
Peter Scudamore, partner of Lucinda Russell, the trainer for whom Gillies had ridden since 2007, described the death as “an awful accident”.
Scudamore said, “It seems they had gone for a swim this morning and Campbell was swimming in the pool when they realised that he had been under the water for a while. They got him out and tried to help him but it was too late.”
According to release on racehorse trainer, Lucinda Campbell’s website:
This dreadful news has hit the whole yard. He was a much loved, popular and respected member at Arlary House, and it is so hard to lose part of our ‘family’. Our hearts go out to his mother Lesley, brother and sister Finlay and Rita.
Lucinda Russell said, ‘We are immensley proud of the achievements of Campbell. It was through his innate ability and talent that he reached great heights as a jockey at such an early age. More than that he had a wonderful charm that I believe came across to everyone who met him, and through his media interviews.’
Gillies’ most recent ride was on Sunday at Hexham and he had been enjoying his most successful campaign with 38 winners in 2011-12.
Just a month ago, Brindisi Breeze, was killed after being hit by a fuel tanker, having bolted from Russell’s yard.