Jockey Michael O’Sullivan has died following a fall at a Co Tipperary racetrack last week.

The 24-year-old was riding Wee Charlie for trainer Gerard O’Leary and was one of three fallers at the final fence in Thurles on 6 February.

The rest of the race was abandoned as the air ambulance arrived to take Mr O’Sullivan to hospital.

He had been in intensive care in Cork University Hospital since the incident.

In a statement, the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board said Mr O’Sullivan died in the early hours of this morning surrounded by his family.

The CEO of the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board, Darragh O’Loughlin, paid tribute to Mr O’Sullivan, describing him as an “exceptionally talented young rider”.

“Michael will be deeply missed by everyone in racing who had the pleasure of knowing him,” he said.

The Chief Medical Officer of the IHRB, Dr Jennifer Pugh, also paid tribute to Mr O’Sullivan saying that his “dedication, modesty and kind nature always made him a pleasure to be around.

“Michael’s success and his humility will have inspired many and I share the feeling of loss today with all those who knew him,” she said.

Read more: Tributes paid to ‘exceptionally talented’ O’Sullivan

Dr Pugh said that Mr O’Sullivan’s family would like to reiterate their gratitude for the support they received and express their appreciation to the local and racing community.

Mr O’Sullivan started off his riding career on the point-to-point circuit and was crowned champion under-21 rider in 2019.

His first win under rules came at Cork in 2018 when he guided Wilcosdiana, trained by his uncle, Eugene, to a 47-length victory in a hunter chase, and he turned professional in September 2022.

It did not take Mr O’Sullivan long to make a major impact in the professional ranks, as he enjoyed a notable winner at that month’s Harvest Festival at Listowel aboard the Terence O’Brien-trained Magnor Glory – and just three days later he steered Enniskerry to a Grade Three success for owner-trainer Barry Connell in the Kilbegnet Novice Chase at Roscommon.

The link-up with Connell would prove hugely successful that season, with the pair combining to land both the Royal Bond Novices’ Hurdle at Fairyhouse and the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham with Marine Nationale, while Good Land was a Grade One winner for the team at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Mr O’Sullivan enjoyed a day one double at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, for as well as Marine Nationale he also scored aboard Gordon Elliott’s Jazzy Matty in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, and rounded off his breakthrough campaign by being crowned champion conditional in Ireland with 32 winners.

In all, Mr O’Sullivan rode 90 winners in Ireland and five in Britain under rules, with his most recent big-race success coming aboard Embassy Gardens for champion trainer Willie Mullins in the Grade Three New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore.

As a mark of respect, the fixture at Punchestown on Sunday and point-to-point meetings in Ireland were cancelled, while a minute silence was observed before racing at Lingfield and Musselburgh in the UK, where the jockeys also wore black armbands.

Additional reporting PA