Jockey Andrew Mallyon spent time in Ukraine with Craig Williams providing medical aid to wounded soldiers near frontline

Melbourne Cup winner Craig Williams isn’t the only Australian jockey helping out in war-torn Ukraine, with Andrew Mallyon joining him on a recent trip to provide vital medical trauma aid.

Administering vital medical trauma aid to an injured Ukrainian soldier near the front line of the conflict, jockey Andrew Mallyon got to see the best and the worst of humanity.

The Queensland jockey said it was one of the most rewarding experiences of his life, making a recent trip to Ukraine with his great mate and fellow jockey Craig Williams.

While the extraordinary humanitarian efforts of Melbourne Cup winner Williams and his wife Larysa in war-torn Ukraine are well-known, Mallyon was keen to pitch in and help in a different way.

Earlier this year, Mallyon gained a medical qualification in trauma first response and he was keen to put it to good use.

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“I was attached to a group that provides essential supplies to Ukrainians in the most affected areas, they would operate close to the frontline and I was the medic in those operations,” Mallyon told Racenet.

Jockey Andrew Mallyon in war-torn Ukraine where he says he saw the best and worst of humanity as he worked as a medic near the frontline. Picture: Supplied by Andrew Mallyon

“We had one incident when I had to treat a Ukrainian soldier who had quite a bad head injury and severe concussion.

“My training kicked in and I was able to treat that soldier on scene and he was transported to a field hospital.

“He came out of hospital that day, luckily.

“That was quite a rewarding experience as he went on to make a full recovery.

“It was something that I had trained for, we were able to get him out of there safely which was great.

“The months of study and training, being able to do it in a real life scenario was very rewarding.”

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Mallyon said he returned from his Ukraine experience with a new perspective on life.

Listening to air-raid sirens going off multiple times a day, and seeing the devastation of some of the towns was a real eye-opener.

Jockeys and great mates Craig Williams and Andrew Mallyon on a recent trip to war-torn Ukraine. Picture: Supplied by Andrew Mallyon

Life as a jockey has its challenges, but Mallyon said that can’t possibly compare to the life-and-death struggles of the people of Ukraine.

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“It gave me a new perspective on life, a bad day at the races is nowhere near a bad day in Ukraine,” Mallyon said.

“I got to see the best and the worst of humanity.

“I actually felt terrible leaving.

“I lived with people where our base of operations was, they took such fantastic care of me and I became one of the family.

“As much as I was looking forward to getting back home to Australia and seeing my wife and kids, I felt a real sense of guilt having to leave people in that situation.

“I got to leave that situation and they are obviously still there today.”

Mallyon insisted he only played a small role and all credit must go to the Williams family for their fundraising and repeated visits to Ukraine.

Champion jockey Craig Williams and his wife Larysa. Picture: Michael Klein

But Mallyon said he was proud to be able to make a contribution to the efforts in Ukraine.

“I wanted to contribute to something that was bigger than myself,” Mallyon said.

“It was nerve wracking at times, when you were close to the (front) line and could hear the artillery going off in the vicinity.

“We operated in front line towns that had been blown apart.

“To see all that destruction made it very real.

“But as difficult as some of the situations were that we were in, it was very rewarding work.”

“I don’t have the same reach as Craig, in terms of fundraising.

“But what I could do is volunteer my time.”

Mallyon, a former Victorian, is keen to make more of an impact on the Brisbane riding scene.

With that in mind, he is now being managed by Drew Smith and the pair have a laser focus on Mallyon riding more city winners in the new racing season.

Originally published as Jockey Andrew Mallyon spent time in Ukraine with Craig Williams providing medical aid to wounded soldiers near frontline