Woman trapped in terrifying trailer accident
Emergency services had to use specialist equipment to free a woman who was trapped under a horse trailer.
The woman sustained leg injuries in the incident on Thursday (28 September) in Cann Woods, Plympton.
Police believe the trailer rolled back, trapping the woman underneath.
Firefighters were called to the site of the incident, a private track between a field and the main road at Fern Hill, to free the woman from under the vehicle.
“Four fire appliances from Plympton, Greenbank and Crownhill, together with the heavy rescue vehicle from Middlemoor, were mobilised following a call from the ambulance service requesting our attendance,” said a spokesman from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.
“Shortly after arriving and liaising with paramedics, crews confirmed the casualty was trapped under the trailer and set to work stabilising the vehicle before attempting to extricate her.”
The woman was freed from under the trailer within 40 minutes, using stabilising equipment, airbags to lift the vehicle and a winch.
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Once safely removed from under the trailer she was left in the care of paramedics.
“We sent an officer, crew, doctor and a helicopter to the scene,” a spokesman for the South West Ambulance Service told local paper The Herald.
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“The woman sustained leg injuries and was taken to Derriford Hospital via road ambulance.”
Devon and Cornwall police spokesperson Samantha Hil, added: “It appears that a vehicle and trailer had rolled back on the track, trapping a woman under the trailer.
“Police, fire service, ambulance and paramedics attended, and the woman was released. Thankfully the injuries were minor but the woman was taken to hospital as a precaution.”
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.