Worcestershire huntsman suffers rotational fall
Worcestershire huntsman Ian Starsmore suffered a rotational fall on Wednesday (26 November) and was taken to the trauma centre Birmingham’s Selly Oak hospital.
He is being kept under heavy sedation and on a ventilator in intensive care until the brain swelling subsides.
The Worcestershire kennels are currently laid up with the cough and the accident occurred with a visiting North Ledbury pack.
“The hounds were flying and Ian is a really superb horseman,” said joint-master David Palmer.
“It was a fairly substantial gate, and unfortunately it was false ground on a headland where the horse took off and he didn’t make it over.”
Mr Starsmore was kept alive by hunt follower Nicky Pettit, who is a nurse, and whipper-in Sam Staniland who performed CPR until the ambulance arrived.
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