THE tender touch of a loving son is the best medicine injured jockey Shane Dye has received this week.
As Dye recovers in a Hong Kong hospital, Nicholas, 15, holds his father's hand and and asks gently: "How are you feeling?" His famous father, still in extreme pain after suffering head injuries, a stress fracture in his back and a partially collapsed lung sustained in the Hong Kong fall, replied: "I'm much better, mate."
Nicholas, his mother, Karla and her husband, Paul Langmack, made a mercy dash from Sydney to Hong Kong on Monday after hearing of Dye's fall.
Karla said Nicholas had been "very frightened" after the fall. "Once we got to the hospital and were able to talk with Shane, it was a huge relief for all of us," she said. "Nicholas is unlikely to follow in his father's footsteps. He is already too tall."
But the bond between father and son is inescapable, having survived the break-up of his parents' marriage some years ago.
His parents remain good friends and Dye admitted Karla's support has been invaluable this week.
The champion jockey is currently going through a bitter separation from his second wife, Emma-Kate. The couple have a four-year-old son, Jack.
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