Family's vigil for teenage pony rider after fall

A 14-YEAR-OLD girl remains in a coma today following a "freak" accident at a horse trials event.

Kate Hunter, of Tealby, suffered head and leg injuries when her pony, Seagull Silver Lady, fell as she approached the final fence of a cross-country course at Bishop Burton College.

The De Aston school pupil was competing in the Bishop Burton College Horse Trials, a one day event, organised by British Eventing, on Sunday.

Since then the teenager has been cared for at Hull Royal Infirmary, where her mother Sue has not left her bedside.

Her father, Ian, landlord of the Kings Head Inn in Tealby, said his daughter lived for horses.

"She lives and breathes horses – nothing else matters," he said. "This is her first season with British Eventing, but she has been doing Pony Club events for about three years – she's a very competent rider."

Kate Hunter ‘lives and breathes horses’.

Mr Hunter, who with wife Sue, has been keeping vigil at Kate's bedside, said support for his daughter had been overwhelming.

He said: "I would like to thank everybody – I never realised that my little girl knew so many people, or that so many people knew her.

"A dozen Get Well cards have come today and that has been going on all week.

"I just want to thank everybody because it is physically impossible to ring everybody and thank them.

"The support from the doctors at the scene, staff from British Eventing and the people on the street has been unbelievable.

"Even the ambulance crews have followed it up – they have all done a sterling job."

As for the accident, Mr Hunter said nobody knows what really happened.

"It was an awkward fence and it was in a dip for people to see. Even I have got doubts in my mind about what happened.

"There is only one person that really knows what happened at that last fence and she is still in a coma."

He added: "All we do know is that she came off and the horse fell onto her left leg and her head.

"She is still unconscious in intensive care at Hull Royal Infirmary.

"She is breathing on her own and she is making progress but she hasn't come round yet."

Liza Randall, PR and communications manager for British Eventing, said everyone at the organisation was wishing Kate well.

She said: "It is one of those freak accidents. We always have paramedics on site, so she would have been seen within a minute of the accident. We just wish her a speedy recovery."

Rozelle Grantham, district commissioner for Burton Hunt Pony Club, to which Kate belongs, described the teenager as a "lovely girl".

The family has also received daily calls wishing Kate well from De Aston School in Market Rasen.

Headteacher Ellenor Beighton said: "We are all desperately concerned to hear about Kate's accident – she is a delightful young person and always a credit to the school.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family at the moment and we are all waiting to hear good news."

Anyone who wishes to check on Kate's progress can contact the Kings Head on (01673) 838347 or Peter Wingham or Jess Parr.

Well wishes can also be posted below.