Man dies after being struck by a pony at Castlewellan show
An 89-year-old man has died after being struck by a pony at an agricultural show in Northern Ireland.
Retired beef farmer Wesley McNeill from Clough in County Down, was killed on Saturday (18 July) after being hit by a loose pony.
Spokesman for Castlewellan Show Fidelma Carlin told H&H that the pony had thrown its rider, before bolting into a pedestrian area.
“A number of people tried to stop it, but he was hit from behind” she said. “He may have attempted to catch it but he was unable to get out of the way in time.”
The incident happened at around 10am.
A spokesman for Northern Ireland Police said: “We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a man at Castlewellan show. The man, in his late 80s, died shortly before 11am.”
The spokesman confirmed the incident was not being treated as suspicious.
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Ms Carlin added that Mr McNeill was attended by St John Ambulance and paramedics who tried to revive him, but was pronounced dead at the scene.
She confirmed the show was co-operating with the police investigation.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic event and extend out deepest sympathy to his family,” she said. “We have a full health and safety plan but we are now looking at what we can do to improve to ensure nothing like this happens again. In 42 years of the show we have not had an accident like this.”
A spokesman for St John Ambulance also added their condolences to his family.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.