Richard ‘Sparky’ Bevis, beloved head lad for Nigel Twiston-Davies, receives overwhelming support from racing community after farm accident results in induced coma

Bevis, 53, suffered severe injuries while working at his farm on Saturday. It is unclear exactly what happened, but since he was alone at the time, it is believed that he may have been struck by a piece of machinery. He was immediately taken to Bristol Southmead hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit for treatment. The medical team performed an operation to address his fractured skull. Currently, Bevis remains sedated and is being supported by a ventilator.

Bevis has a long history working in the racing industry. He spent a few years training before joining the Twiston-Davies yard 18 years ago as the head lad. During his time there, the stable experienced great success, including winning the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup with Imperial Commander. Bevis played a vital role in the care and training of Imperial Commander, as well as other successful horses like Bristol De Mai, a five-time Grade 1 winner. Nigel Twiston-Davies, the stable’s trainer, expressed his devastation upon hearing the news of Bevis’s accident. He highlighted Bevis’s significant contributions to the stable’s achievements over the years.

Robert, Bevis’s brother and the holder of a racing license, expressed gratitude for the support they have received from the racing community. He mentioned that people’s kindness has been overwhelming. At this time, Bevis’s condition remains uncertain. Although there are signs that he will recover, it is still too early to make any definite statements about his prognosis. Initially, he was in critical condition due to a skull fracture and a fractured eye socket. The surgical procedure involved removing a small piece of bone that had penetrated the eye socket. His recovery process will be closely monitored, and in about a week’s time, the medical team will attempt to wake him from sedation to assess his progress.

Bevis is known for having his own small farm, where he tends to sheep and other animals. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances of the incident, it is not clear what happened as he was alone at the time. The family is eagerly awaiting more information to shed light on the events leading up to the accident.