British jockey Keagan Kirkby has died in Kent after his horse veered into the side of a jump. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Jockey Keagan Kirkby has died after a fall during a horse race in Kent, UK.

Horse photography firm JTW Equine Images took to X on Monday in a tribute with images of Kirkby in action:

The 25-year-old Kirkby was riding in the Charing point-to-point meet in Kent on Sunday when his locally trained horse veered off course and collided with the side of a jump. An on-course medical team and an air ambulance crew treated the fallen jockey in front of the shocked spectators, but Kirkby’s injuries proved fatal.  

Kirkby worked at the stables of British National Hunt champion horse trainer Paul Nicholls. He joined the trainer’s stables in Ditcheat, Somerset in 2019 and a panel shortlisted him for “an industry-wide employees’ award,” the BBC reported.

Nicholls stated Kirkby would be missed “terribly.”

All at team Ditcheat are mortified.”

“Winners totally insignificant compared to what has happened today. All at team Ditcheat are mortified. Thoughts with all his friends and family,” Nicholls added in a tribute on X.

British Horseracing Authority Chief Executive Julie Harrington also paid tribute in a statement, saying the whole racing industry will mourn the loss of a young jockey with so much potential.

Harrington added that his award nomination spoke of a “thoughtful rider who develops a personal bond with his horses [and] his affable, helpful nature and popularity on the yard.”