Cochrane receives bravery award

Former top jockey Ray Cochrane said today he felt 'humble' after receiving a Queen`s Commendation for Bravery for his courage in rescuing fellow rider Frankie Dettori from the wreckage of a crashed plane.

The two men were heading for a meeting at Goodwood when the Piper Seneca plane came down.

Ulsterman Cochrane, 44, dragged his fellow jockey from the light aircraft and tried to save the life of pilot Patrick Mackey, 52, following the crash at Newmarket racecourse, in June 2000.

He received the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk Lord Belstead at a ceremony at the Jockey Club in Newmarket.

Afterwards, Cochrane said: 'I have been told the medal is the equivalent of the Military Cross.

'It`s very humbling. Very brave soldiers who did a lot more than me have received the Military Cross.'

Cochrane, accompanied at the ceremony by his wife Anne, suffered burns and bruising in the crash.

He retired from racing on doctor`s orders in October 2000 following an accident on the gallops in August of that year which weakened his back and he became Dettori`s agent.

Cochrane said: 'Frankie had his best season last year and he`s now in Dubai.'

Dettori, 29 at the time, suffered multiple injuries in the plane crash.

Speaking about the accident, in which Mackey died, Cochrane said: 'I was the only one who could do anything, and when you see people in trouble you have to help.

'I got Frankie out but didn`t know he had a broken leg.

'There was all blood in his eyes and he couldn`t see where he was going.

'I carried him out. And by the time I reached the tail of the plane it started to explode.'

Cochrane, who lives near Newmarket, then tried to return to the aircraft to save the pilot, but could not help because it was on fire.

He said the accident had altered his attitude to life.

'It changes a lot of priorities in your life. It makes you enjoy living a lot more and you try to do a lot more with your life.'