Rider, 24, crushed by horse

A 24-year-old woman was crushed after a horse fell on her while she was out riding in Telford.

The woman was airlifted to hospital after the accident in a field near Donnington Wood Way, in Donnington Wood, yesterday.

It is believed the horse became startled and threw the woman to the ground before it fell on top of her.

Emergency services were alerted just before 10am, and a land ambulance and the air ambulance from Cosford were sent to the scene.

Claire Thomas, spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said control centre staff stayed on the phone to the caller for some time as the exact location of the accident was hard to find.

The caller gave information about landmarks which was relayed to the air crew circling above.

She said: "The land ambulance arrived on scene prior to the helicopter landing but was unable to gain access to the field for a period. When the helicopter landed they found a 24-year-old female who had fallen from a horse.

"It is believed the horse had been spooked, causing the woman to fall off. The horse then fell on top of the woman."

The rider suffered a pelvic injury and back pain in the accident. She was given treatment in the field before being immobilised using a neck collar and spinal board.

She was flown to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham for further treatment.