Rescued rider back on track

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A horse rider rescued by the Sussex Air Ambulance after being knocked out in a fall has rallied fellow riders to raise money for the life-saving charity.

 

Mother-of-two Caroline Sutherland, 52, from Uckfield, will mark the first anniversary of her accident by taking part in an endurance event on March 28.

 

It will be a year to the day that she was airlifted by the helicopter after falling from her Arab horse Ali during a training ride on the South Downs Way.

 

She was cantering along with friend Kim Carter when Ali lost his footing, catapulting Caroline into the air and sending her crashing to the ground.

 

Caroline was knocked unconscious by the force of the blow so Kim dialled 999 and the Sussex Air Ambulance was called to the scene at Duncton near Petworth.

 

The helicopter landed in a nearby field within five minutes after passing walkers were able to give the emergency services an exact grid reference.

 

Caroline was flown to a waiting land ambulance and taken to St Richard’s Hospital at Chichester following her lunchtime accident.

 

She also suffered minor back injuries but was released later that day after X-rays revealed she had not fractured her jaw and cheekbone as medics first thought.

 

She said: “We were having a nice, pleasant ride. It was a new ride to our calendar and a successful one. Unfortunately, I kind of messed up a little bit.

 

“According to my friend, I was rolling around on the floor groaning and making funny noises.

 

“Kim was amazing, I have to say, because it was quite shocking for her and she had to deal with two horses.

 

“She said that as the helicopter took off, Ali looked at me as if he knew it was me in there which was most bizarre.

 

“Because I couldn’t really remember what happened, I didn’t really have any fear of getting back on my horse.”

 

Although Caroline has returned to the saddle, she will not be riding at the endurance event later this month but will be busy filling collection boxes.

 

Between 50 and 70 riders are expected to turn out to help fund the £1.7m-a-year cost of keeping the Sussex Air Ambulance flying from its base near Horsham.

 

Caroline added: “It never ceases to amaze me that the service is funded by donations.

 

“It is absolutely shocking and I can’t believe there is not more support from central government.

 

“From personal experience, I very much value what they do. It’s a wonderful service. I’ve always wanted to go up in a helicopter, it’s just a shame I can’t remember it.”