Gavin Smith (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
PE trainer Gavin Smith has taken seriously ill with a bout of pneumonia. His daughter Abbi confirmed that when Gavin got back from the National Sales last Friday, it was business as usual. “It had been really hot in Joburg, but down here we had a storm and he was at track on Saturday in the rain. On Sunday he felt a bit sick and we thought it was just a touch of flu. We went to races as usual on Monday and after the last race he stood up and said he wasn’t feeling well. We thought it was just a bad bout of flu and he dosed himself up with the usual flu meds and we all thought he’d be fine.”
When he hadn’t improved by Wednesday evening, he was admitted to hospital. “He initially thought it might be kidney stones and it turned out he does have a kidney infection, but they were more concerned about his lungs. He had pneumonia, there was fluid around his liver and lung and his right lung had partially collapsed.”
Gavin was scheduled for minor surgery to drain the fluid yesterday, but refused to let them take him in until he’d finished Sunday’s scratchings. “Only once scratchings were done would he let them take him,” laughs Abbi. The op went well, although Gavin will stay in hospital for a few more days while he recovers.
Workhorse
The multiple PE champion trainer is characteristically champing at the bit and Abbi says, “All he wants to do is get back to work, but it will take a little while. In the meantime he’s on the phone 24/7, doing scratchings and nominations and talking to owners. I think it’s helping to take his mind off being in hospital.”
In the meantime the yard Gavin’s brother Andrew and daughter Abbi are taking care of the yard and Abbi says, “I’ve taken a week off school to help out and everything’s going fine.”
We wish Gavin a speedy recovery.
