Nine-year-old girl dies in hunting accident
A nine-year-old girl, Bonamie (Bonnie) Armitage, was fatally injured when she was kicked by another horse while out with a hunt.
It is thought Bonnie was riding behind a bigger horse that lashed out at her pony, at a farm in Miserden, Gloucestershire, while out with the Cotswold Hunt on Saturday morning (2 April).
Paramedics were called at about 11.25am and the child was airlifted to the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where she later died.
A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said: “A nine-year-old girl was taking part in an organised event when she was involved in an incident involving a horse.
“The girl suffered serious injuries and was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital by air ambulance where she sadly died.
“The coroner and the child’s family have been informed. Police are not treating the death as suspicious.”
In a statement released online today, the joint masters of the Cotswold said: “As I am sure most of you will be aware, last Saturday’s meet was overshadowed by the tragic death of a nine year old child who sustained what proved to be fatal injuries in an accident in the hunting field, and slipped away after strenuous efforts by the air ambulance team and paramedics.
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“As soon as it was realised that a child was fighting for their life, hounds were taken home immediately and trail hunting cancelled.
“A sense of shock and sadness is with us all as we try to come to terms with the family’s overwhelming loss and grief, and we hope that the strength of our community together with the power of our prayers and the sincerity of our condolences will be of some comfort to the family.
“In truth we find it hard to write this, as a young life lost is very very hard to bear.
“We would also like to thank the emergency services, who did their very best, and all who did what they could.”
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A resident of Miserden, who did not want to be named, told the Western Daily Press: “The hunt is very well known and established in the area. The feeling around the village is that it is just a terribly, terribly tragic, sad event.
“They meet in the village and then they go off riding around the fields in the area. They left the village and it was in one of the nearby fields.
“It is a tragic, unfortunate accident. It is just awful when somebody so young is involved.”
The woman added: “The little girl’s grandparents are well known in the area and they are well respected. It is such a tragedy for the family.
“When you take into account the amount of horse riding events happen in the area and how few accidents there are this is just a tragic, tragic event.”
Another local, who did not want to be named, told the Press Association: “She is believed to have been kicked off her horse by another horse. It is an extremely sad incident.”
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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.