A 12-year-old girl from the United States has died following a riding accident.
Kalee Chandler, a keen barrel racer, was trapped under her horse at a competition in Missouri.
Kalee was taking part in an event in Adrian on Saturday (21 May) when her horse reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack.
The pair were heading for the finish line when they collided with a gate, according to a witness.
“At the end of the run, the horse had a medical issue and hit the fence,” Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson said.
Kalee, from Butler, Missouri, was trapped under the horse until it could be moved.
Paramedics performed CPR at the competition before Kalee was taken by ambulance to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.
Kalee remained in intensive care until she died on Monday afternoon (23 May).
Barrel Racer News called for those in the sport to pray for Kalee after it heard of her accident.
“Prayers are needed for 12-year-old Kalee, who was injured badly at a barrel race in Adrian after the horse she was riding fell during her run and rolled on her,” the report read.
A vigil was held in Kalee’s honour on Wednesday (25 May) at 7:30pm at the Bates County Fairgrounds in Butler, Missouri.
The community was invited to attend and asked to bring candles to help light up the fairground in Kalee’s memory.
“Everybody is very sombre right now,” superintendent Darin Carter said. “It’s a horrible tragedy that is going to stick with our school district and our community for a long time.”
Sheriff Anderson told the Kansas City Star Star that Kalee was “excellent in everything she did” and “always had a smile on her face.”
