THE parents of a young jockey killed in a freak accident at the stables where he was working have spoken of their grief.

Philip Greally was knocked unconscious when a horse lashed out and kicked him on the head as he worked at stables in Sheriff Hutton, in North Yorkshire, last week.

The 20-year-old, who worked at Mick Easterby's yard at New House Farm, received the fatal injuries as he was trying to catch the horse with a colleague.

He was taken to York District Hospital before being transferred to Leeds General Hospital for emergency surgery, but he failed to regain consciousness and died on Friday.

Mr Greally, from Lemington, Newcastle, was a promising jockey and had ridden several times on flat courses as an apprentice for Mr Easterby. He was also considering applying for an additional rider's licence to ride over hurdles.

Mr Greally, who would have been 21 next month, had an older brother, Alan. He had been working at Mr Easterby's stables for four years.

His parents, Colin and Sheila Greally, described their son as an "outgoing lad who had so much to live for".

Mr Greally said: "He was a very outgoing lad and to lose someone with so much to live for is cruel."

The accident which killed him was described as a chance-in-a-million by stable owner and racehorse trainer Mr Easterby, who said staff were trying to come to terms with his death.

Mr Easterby said: "Philip and a girl noticed a strap had come off a rug on a horse in one of the paddocks and they went to put it back on.

"They tried to catch the horse and, just as Philip was chasing after it, another horse cantered past, lashed out with his hind legs and caught Philip on top of his head. I cannot believe it happened, it was a chance-in-a-million. Philip was a brilliant, clean-living lad and we are deeply saddened by it all."