Hunt supporter dies after fall at New Year’s Day meet

A hunt supporter has died after falling from his horse at a meet of the Lauderdale hunt on New Year’s Day.

Retired businessman Paul Watson, 61, had gone along mounted to the meet of the pack at Lauder in the Scottish Borders but had not intended hunting with them.

However as the field moved off Mr Watson’s horse bolted and he fell, hitting his head on the road. He was not wearing a riding hat.

He was treated at the scene by a nurse who was also at the meet and taken by ambulance to Borders General Hospital near Melrose, where he died later that day.

In a statement, the Lauderdale expressed its “sincere condolences” to Mr Watson’s family after the “tragic accident”.

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