Amateur whipper-in died after suffering a stroke
An amateur whipper-in suffered a huge stroke after being dragged by his horse into a tree, a coroner has recorded.
Gary Bradley, 55, who whipped-in to the Minehead Harriers, was trail hunting in Wheddon Cross, Somerset, on 15 January 2011 when his horse was spooked and careered down a steep hill (news, 3 February 2011).
Mr Bradley came off but was dragged along by a stirrup until he hit a tree.
He suffered a severe pelvic fracture, broken ribs, facial fractures and a dislocated kneecap and was airlifted to Musgrove Park Hospital.
He later suffered a stroke and was transferred to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, where he died on 27 January 2011.
His family questioned some aspects of his care at Musgrove Park, but West Somerset coroner Michael Rose said he was satisfied.
Mr Rose recorded a narrative verdict on 28 August at the coroner’s court in Taunton.
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This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (6 September, 2012)
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A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.