Fitzgerald undergoes second operation on his neck after Grand National fall

Having had an eight-our operation last week, the 37-year-old rider underwent another five-hour surgery on Monday night, and has reported to have come through it very successfully.

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His neck is now supported by a fixed brace rather than a halo, which was used prior to the surgery.

Jeremy Fairbanks, the surgeon who carried out the operation at the Nuffield Hospital in Oxford, will be assessing Fitzgerald on a ongoing basis and if he continues to progress, plans will be made in the near future for him to return home.

Fitzgerald also underwent surgery to his knee, to repair severe ligament damage, which he also sustained from his fall in the Grand National. This is reported to have been a success.

The Irishman has been inundated with get-well messages and has received numerous visits from friends, including ex-weighing room colleagues Carl Llewellyn and John Francome.

"He's handling this remarkably well," said Francome. "It is good to see. He's sitting up in bed and he's now walking around. He must be as hard as nails – I'm not sure I was as tough as him. He knows he's been very lucky and it has obviously gone through his mind that he was lucky not to have been paralysed. "He's got another long operation to go through, but he'll handle it. He's a tough guy."

Fitzgerald, who has two young children, Oscar and Zach, with partner Chloe Jackman, planned to retire last year but decided against it and continued to ride for, and assist trainer Nicky Henderson.

Though he is expected to make a full recovery, it is believed that he will announce his retirement shortly.