DORSET’S William Fox-Pitt has detailed his staggering recovery from being placed in an induced coma nine months ago to gaining selection for the Rio Olympics.

The British eventing star suffered head trauma following a cross-country fall during last October’s World Young Horse Championships in Le Lion d’Angers, France.

He spent a fortnight unconscious after which he was initially unable to climb the stairs at his home without stopping or lift any of his children.

Now, though, the 47-year-old is on course for a fifth Olympics appearance next month, riding his 2015 Badminton Horse Trials winner Chilli Morning.

“When I came around and everything got going again, it was all about getting back on for Rio,” said Fox-Pitt. “It was harder work than I’d thought getting fit again and getting back on a horse took longer than I thought.

“Lots of people felt very strongly that enough was enough, and I certainly thought about that, but at the same time, horses are a big part of my life and give me a lot of pleasure. They gave me something to go for and push myself.

“I couldn’t walk up the stairs for the first few weeks – I had to have a little rest halfway. My body completely deteriorated, so the horses really got me back to being fit and back on the job.

“I lost a lot of strength – more than you would imagine. I couldn’t pick up a child, I couldn’t even walk to the stables. My body has had a real shock. In the two weeks I was unconscious, I lost 12 kilos.”

Fox-Pitt underwent twice-daily sessions for three months with a renowned ophthalmologist in Bournemouth to restore proper vision.

“I had double vision and it certainly made me feel under par,” added Fox-Pitt.

“It did affect my riding. I could ride on the flat but it was tricky jumping when one fence became four and you didn’t really know which one you were jumping until the last minute, so my horses did put up with an awful lot of surprises.

“My ophthalmologist made me his project and he got me better in four months when he had been told it would be a year before I could see normally.

“He drilled me. I was looking down tubes and doing all these exercises, doing sessions twice a day to get my eyes to be straight and focused and not be blurred and crossed.”

Fox-Pitt returned to competition three months ago and with Chilli Morning twice a medallist at world and European Championship level, in addition to winning Badminton, they could excel in Rio.

“To win a medal would probably be more of an achievement now, when I think where I have come from,” said Fox-Pitt. “Chilli is very capable – third at the worlds, third in the Europeans – and could be in the hunt.

“Until now, it has just been about getting to Rio and now it is about doing well in Rio. I have had doubts, I’ve had thoughts about calling it a day but I love riding and I love horses. It’s what I do.”