British jockey dies in Corfu pool accident

British jockey Campbell Gillies, 21, who won a race at the Cheltenham Festival this year, has died in an accident while on holiday in Greece.

“We can confirm the death of a British national in Corfu on 26 June. We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time,» a Foreign Office spokesman said on Tuesday.

Media reports said Gillies was on holiday with friends and fellow jockeys Henry Brooke, Nathan Moscrop and Harry Haynes in Kavos on the Greek island of Corfu and died in a swimming pool incident.

Gillies, who was born in Scotland, rode to victory on Brindisi Breeze in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. [Reuters]