Newlywed jockey splits from husband after suffering brain injury from horse kick

A young jockey who was placed into an induced coma after being kicked by a horse months after her fairytale wedding has revealed a tragic update.

A newlywed jockey who was placed into an induced coma and suffered a traumatic brain injury after being kicked in the head by a horse at Flemington has revealed she split with her husband just months after waking up.

Juana Andreou, 29, had only been married to Jesse Hemmens for three months when she was left fighting for life after the incident in July last year.

Mr Hemmens told The Daily Mail at the time that he would “stay by her side” and nurse his wife back to health as she had done for him 12 months earlier.

But in an update on social media earlier this month, Ms Andreou revealed that their marriage had fallen apart in the wake of the accident that left her in a coma until September last year.

Juana Andreou was left in a coma after a freak accident in July 2022. Picture: Supplied

Speaking to The Daily Mail on Wednesday, Ms Andreou said the relationship ended on a bitter note over a series of issues including a dispute over a horse and funds raised from a GoFundMe page following her injury.

The publication also reported that the couple were involved in a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal guardianship hearing in January.

Ms Andreou and her parents are reportedly disputing an application by Mr Hemmens to become her guardian.

Declining to comment on the split or the court proceedings, Mr Hemmens warned the publication it was “fraught” to report on the couple’s situation.

The 29-year-old continues to recover from a traumatic brain injury. Picture: Juana Hemmens/Facebook

“Juana suffered a devastating acquired brain injury and her rehabilitation is ongoing,” he told The Daily Mail.

“I urge you to be very sure of the facts before publishing any reports or commentary on our situation. I have nothing else to say and do not intend to have any further communications about a matter that is deeply personal to me.”

Mr Hemmens is not alleged to have engaged in any wrongdoing.

News.com.au has contacted Ms Andreou and Mr Hemmens for comment.

The couple tied the knot in front of family and friends in April 2022 at Immerse Winery in the Yarra Valley, with photos on social media showing the beaming couple walking down the aisle hand-in-hand.

Juana Andreou and Jesse Hemmens tied the knot in April 2022. Picture: Juana Hemmens/Facebook

“You and I because at the end of the day, that’s all that matters,” Ms Andreou captioned the photos at the time.

Just three months later, Ms Andreou was grooming a horse when it kicked her in the head in a freak accident.

She was rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition and placed in an induced coma.

The young jockey went through two surgeries to stop the bleeding and reduce pressure on her brain.

Friends launched a GoFundMe to raise money for her surgery, treatment, medical and living expenses, with hundreds of supporters ultimately chipping in just under $53,000.

A GoFundMe raised nearly $53,000 for her recovery. Picture: Juana Hemmens/Facebook

“As you can imagine, this is a horrific time for her family and friends as Juana fights for her life in hospital,” organiser Daniel Deleo wrote.

“Her husband, Jesse Hemmens, has also struggled with his own medical issues, which have consistently seen him in and out of hospital over the past few years. Jesse is by Juana’s side, supporting his wife. Unfortunately, Jesse’s medical condition will not see him working for the next two to three months at a minimum.”

Speaking to The Daily Mail at the time, Mr Hemmens said, “I’ve had my own health issues for a long time and had surgery 12 months ago that went sideways and I nearly died. She never left my side and I’ll never leave hers.”

Her father Arthur Andreou this week told the publication he was amazed how far his daughter had come in her recovery journey.

Mr Andreou said she had started doing things she loved before the accident including wrangling a horse on a recent visit home.

“I used to cry almost every day, I thought we had almost lost her,” he said.

“Now, she is doing terrific. I am blown away. The hospital is talking about discharging her. We can’t wait to have her home.”