12-year-old girl dies in fall from horse while out hacking

A 12-year-old girl has died after falling off a horse while out riding near Preston in Lancashire.

Charlotte Collison’s horse bolted while crossing a bridge over the M55 at Catforth on Monday August 18 at 2.30pm.

Her friend, who was out riding with her, didn’t see the accident. The first she knew of Charlotte’s fall was when her horse bolted past her.

John Benson, a local farmer was the first at the scene. He got a retired local doctor to tend to Charlotte, of Blackpool Road, Ashton, who was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital by the North West Air Ambulance. She later died in hospital.

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