Tragic Accident Claims Life of 36-Year-Old British Equestrian When Horse Flips Over During Event

A BRITISH riding star was killed when her horse flipped on top of in a horror fall at an event, an inquest heard.

was taking part in a competition at the Bicton International Horse Trials in when the tragedy unfolded.

Georgie Campbell was killed during a riding event Credit: instagram/@jesse_campbell89 Her horse fell on top of her after failing to clear a jump Credit: Alamy

The 36-year-old and her horse Global Quest were on the final day of the event when they failed to clear the log jump.

Georgie was thrown from the horse, which then somersaulted and landed upside down on her before the animal ran away unhurt.

The inquest was told there was “nothing to spook” the horse and it was “a simple accident”.

Georgie’s husband Jesse, a fellow professional event rider, said he was about a mile away when the tragedy happened.

Georgie’s husband Jesse tragically saw the fall Credit: instagram/@mrsgeorgiecampbell The rider’s cause was death was given as a bleed on the brain

He added: “I knew it was a really bad fall.”

Jesse said Global Quest, which weighed up to 610 kilos and was 16.3 hands, was an experienced horse and they had put in an “awesome” performance over the first four fences.

He told Devon Coroner’s : “There was nothing that put him off. He has an impeccable cross country record.”

The inquest heard Georgie was wearing a riding helmet and back protector.

Experts said the horse had tried to put in an extra stride at the water jump but hit his chest and front legs on the log jump.

This caused Georgie to be thrown to the ground and Global Quest’s momentum meant he fell rotationally and landed on her.

A rotational fall happens when a horse impacts a solid fence with its forelegs – causing it’s forward momentum to suddenly convert into rotational motion, which can lead to it flipping over in mid air and landing on its back.

Georgie’s cause was death was given as a basal subarachnoid haemorrhage – a bleed on the brain.

The inquest heard she suffered heavy bleeding from her head and multiple rib fractures and died at the scene after medics raced to her side.

Devon Area coroner Deborah Archer was told she would have lost consciousness quickly and it was “a rapid death”.

The coroner recorded an accidental death conclusion, saying: “It was a thoroughly tragic accident of a much loved 36-year-old woman participating in the sport she loved.”

Georgie began her horse riding career as a top-level showing rider before turning to eventing.

As a teen, she was shortlisted for the British junior team and made her five-star debut in 2009.

Georgie represented Great Britain numerous times on Nations Cup teams.

In 2010, she won the prize for the highest-placed rider under 25 in the British Open at Gatcombe.

In a moving tribute, her husband Jesse previously described Georgie as “a strong, beautiful, phenomenal woman who just loved everything and everyone”.

He told how his wife would find “so much joy and love” in every situation.

Jesse added: “She would get as much joy from having a Greggs tea on the way home from the gallops as she would teaching a client in the pouring rain or jumping and galloping around biggest courses in the world.

“It was just incredible to be at your side and feel this energy.

“I’m so proud to be your husband. Rest in peace, my beautiful girl.”

Governing body British Eventing called Georgie’s death a “fatal accident” and confirmed at the time horse Global Quest was uninjured in the fall.