Bruce Purcell has been airlifted to hospital and is in a serious condition after being kicked in the head by a horse. 🤞🏻

Thoughts with him
Can remember his wife being a member on here until driven away

Bruce has always been a gentleman. I do hope he's OK.

date on the condition of fellow horseman Bruce Purcell.

Griffiths, president of the Australian Trainers' Association, told RSN on Monday morning that Purcell remains in a critical but stable condition in Melbourne's Alfred Hospital.

Purcell suffered serious head injuries when kicked by a horse when unloading it from a float at the Cranbourne Training Complex on Friday. The 76-year-old was also dragged for a distance in the traumatic incident.

“Jean Purcell (Bruce's wife) has been kind enough to text me daily so we can keep everyone updated," Griffiths said.

“He obviously got dragged at the time of the incident and as a result of that he’s got multiple fractures around his head, face and ribs.

“There was bleeding on the brain and all sorts of things like that.”

As a result of the injuries, Purcell was placed in an induced coma but Griffiths did suggest there had been some positive signs over the weekend.

“There has been some positive signs that when they’ve reduced the sedation to see how his sensitivity to pain is, he’s responded," Griffiths said.

“We’re all taking that as a positive, it’s a good thing, but they’re keeping him in an induced coma quite a lot to make sure his body has a chance to rest and get some peace so that he can recover.

“It’s a long road ahead and he’s still in a critical condition, but he’s pretty tough Bruce.”

A trainer of more than 50 years, Purcell is a stalwart of the Cranbourne training ranks.

“If you Google the Cranbourne training ranks, there’s a photo of Bruce there," he said.

“He’s has been such a big part of the Cranbourne training community for such a long time and you’re just used to seeing him at the track every day. Training is what he does, it’s what he loves.

“It’s very sad and worrying to see him in this situation and there’s a lot of support for ready for Jean when she needs it.”

WorkSafe Victoria are continuing their investigations into the incident.

Long awaited update on Bruce Purcell
Today he took a huge step by being taken off all medications other than pain relief and was shifted from the Alfred Hospital to Caulfield Rehabilitation ABI specialist.

Seriously I am walking on air to think that Bruce has come this far in just under 4 weeks!

Purcell records first winner since injury

Trainer Bruce Purcell has recorded his first winner since he was seriously injured in a trackwork incident in July.

The Cranbourne horseman is still recovering and wasn't on course at Sale to see gelding Extending's victory on Thursday.

But trainer Ray Besanko, who has taken over care of the horse in the meantime, said the 76-year-old was on the mend after a very difficult few months.

"He's really well, he's walking and he's talking and doing everything and he's just improved in leaps and bounds in the past couple of weeks," Besanko said.

"I'm just happy that he's won for Bruce."

Purcell had to be placed in an induced coma following the incident on July 15, having broken multiple bones in his head and body after tangling with one of his horses in the early hours of trackwork.

WATCH: Hear from Besanko

"I'm just happy he's won for Bruce."

We hope you're watching Bruce, Extending certainly dug deep for you today.

Great to see Bruce up and about. Hope it keeps improving

Current Stable

1. Extending
   
2. Happy Pirate
   
3. No New Tricks
   
4. Our Echelon
   
5. Unconquered Sun

Purcell's big win days after cardiac arrest