EXCLUSIVEDevastated girlfriend of tragic jockey Keagan Kirkby told him she loved him as he passed away after fatal horse riding fall
- Keagan Kirkby fell in the last race at Charing racecourse yesterday
The girlfriend of tragic jockey Keagan Kirby was able to tell him she loved him as paramedics battled to save his life.
Emily Burge, 21, was at the point-to-point meeting and ran on to the course after Keagan, 25, fell from his horse in the last race of the day.
She said: 'They thought he was winded but when I got there they had put green screens around him.
'He was not conscious but I told him I loved him before he was declared dead.
'He died doing something he loved.'
![His girlfriend Emily Burge was able to tell him she loved him as paramedics battled to save him](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/05/14/80859261-13047165-His_girlfriend_Emily_Burge_wrote_online_I_never_thought_in_a_mil-a-18_1707144309387.jpg)
His girlfriend Emily Burge was able to tell him she loved him as paramedics battled to save him
![Kirkby is pictured with racing legend Sir AP McCoy in November 2013](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/05/14/80840535-13047165-Kirkby_pictured_with_racing_legend_Sir_AP_McCoy_in_November_2013-a-19_1707144313255.jpg)
Kirkby is pictured with racing legend Sir AP McCoy in November 2013
![British Horseracing Authority released a statement saying they were 'devastated'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/05/14/80840723-13047165-British_Horseracing_Authority_chief_executive_Julie_Harrington_r-a-20_1707144323699.jpg)
British Horseracing Authority released a statement saying they were 'devastated'
![Ms Burge paid an emotional tribute to the young jockey online](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/05/14/80859255-13047165-Ms_Burge_paid_an_emotional_tribute_to_the_young_jockey_who_was_a-a-28_1707144418946.jpg)
Ms Burge paid an emotional tribute to the young jockey online
![Keagan Kirkby, 25, pictured with his girlfriend Emily Burge before his death](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/05/14/80859267-13047165-Keagan_Kirkby_25_pictured_with_his_girlfriend_Emily_Burge_died_d-a-29_1707144427877.jpg)
Keagan Kirkby, 25, pictured with his girlfriend Emily Burge before his death
Keagan's horse ran through the wing of a fence during the second circuit of the race at the Charing point-to-point in Kent.
Emily said: 'One of the other jockeys spoke to me afterwards and said the horse ran right through the wing.
'He said there was nothing any rider could have done to avoid what happened - it was no one's fault.
'There were two ambulances, the course doctor and an air ambulance, everyone did all they could to save him. They were so good.'
Professional groom Emily and Keagan met on a blind date last August and had made plans for their future together.
They were due to go on holiday together to the Lake District for Emily's birthday in May before house-hunting for their first home together.
She went to the point-to-point with Keagan's grandfather David Young who had guided him through his equestrian career.
Keagan had raced twice already at the Sunday meeting, coming fourth and second before riding in the final event of the meeting.
The talented young jockey was looking forward to riding at Newbury later this month, his first at a recognised racecourse. He was also due to ride at Cheltenham in May.
![Keagan Kirkby, 25, (pictured right next to champion trainer Paul Nicholls) has died](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/05/14/80838191-13047165-Keagan_Kirkby_25_pictured_right_next_to_champion_trainer_Paul_Ni-a-22_1707144378576.jpg)
Keagan Kirkby, 25, (pictured right next to champion trainer Paul Nicholls) has died
![Kirkby worked for champion trainer Nicholls who was left 'mortified' by his death](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/05/14/80838195-13047165-Kirkby_worked_for_champion_trainer_Nicholls_who_has_been_left_mo-a-24_1707144382401.jpg)
Kirkby worked for champion trainer Nicholls who was left 'mortified' by his death
![His ability was such that he was nominated for a Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/05/14/80840537-13047165-His_ability_was_such_that_last_November_he_was_nominated_for_a_T-a-25_1707144390839.jpg)
His ability was such that he was nominated for a Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award
![Emily, from Taunton, Somerset, said that away from the racecourse Keagan was a gentleman](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/05/14/80838193-13047165-Kirkby_was_thrown_from_his_horse_during_the_final_race_at_Charin-a-27_1707144396492.jpg)
Emily, from Taunton, Somerset, said that away from the racecourse Keagan was a gentleman
Tearful Emily said: 'He was doing his Amateur License next week, he loved everything about the sport and had a great future ahead of him.
'He would talk about horses and racing all the time, you couldn't keep him quiet about it.
'People would say he was like the walking Racing Post.'
Emily, from Taunton, Somerset, said that away from the racecourse Keagan was a gentleman who was loved by everybody.
She said: 'He was so understanding, you never heard him raise his voice.
'He never had a bad word to say about anyone, everybody loved him.'
Emily, who was a trainee jockey in Ireland before being injured in a serious fall, is meeting with Keagan's distraught family tonight to start making arrangements for his funeral.
She told MailOnline that they had never talked about the dangers of the sport during their six months together.
Emily said: 'Most of the horses he rode were good, it's not something we discussed.
'He was very unlucky - no one thinks it's going to happen to them.'
Emily wrote a moving tribute online saying: 'I never thought in a million years I would find someone like you who cared and looked after me the way you did.
'I'm absolutely heartbroken and always will be.
'You were the light at the end of a hard week at work. We had so many plans over the summer to go to the lakes and show you where I grew up in Exmoor.
'I know I will always be your doughnut and you will always be my princess. I'm so sorry and I will love you forever.'
Kirkby worked for champion trainer Paul Nicholls who has been left 'mortified' by his death.
He was a hugely popular figure in Nicholls's Ditcheat Stables and a talented horseman, who looked after Afadil - a horse who won at Musselburgh on Saturday.
His ability was such that last November he was nominated for a Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award in the category for best rider.
Kirkby was riding in a Point-to-Point meeting. Point-to-Point is a form of amateur racing with huge popularity across the country.
But the day took an awful turn when Kirkby was thrown from horse he partnered in the final race.
He received immediate medical attention and an air ambulance was called but Kirkby could not be saved. The heartbreaking incident has been felt far and wide within racing.