Top rider was killed when horse fell on her

A professional rider died after her horse fell and landed on her at an event, an inquest has heard.

Georgie Campbell, from Cranbrook in Kent, was 36 when the "terrible, tragic accident" happened at the Bicton International Horse Trials in Devon in May 2024.

On Thursday, Devon Coroners' Court heard that the horse, Global Quest, appeared to collide with a jump, throwing Campbell from her saddle before falling backwards and landing directly on top of her.

Campbell died at the scene as a result of a catastrophic head injury.

In a statement, her husband Jesse Campbell told the court that, until that moment, "there had been no indication anything was amiss at all".

The court was told Campbell had been wearing suitable protective gear at the time of the accident, including a helmet, and had previously walked the course in order to familiarise herself with it.

"Georgie was a dedicated professional," said her husband, a fellow equestrian and member of the New Zealand team for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

"She was so incredibly thorough in all that she did."

Assistant coroner Deborah Archer agreed that Campbell had been "well-prepared" for the event and added that risk assessments of the course had been completed appropriately.

Archer said: "Georgie Campbell was talented, happily married and dedicated to her sport and career of choice.

"I find that this was nothing but a terrible, tragic accident, involving a much-loved woman who died participating in the sport she loved."

Initially a top-level show rider before turning to eventing, Campbell represented Great Britain numerous times on Nations Cup teams and appeared at several five-star events, the highest recognised level of eventing.

Additional reporting by PA Media.

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