Yahoo News Yorkshire man's 'fright' as he's crushed by horse in freak accident
A man was crushed beneath the horse he was training when it reared and fell on top of him in a freak accident in Harrogate.
Joe Billingham, 34, was exercising a horse in an outdoor riding arena when she unexpectedly reared. The impact left him in excruciating pain, it was later revealed that he'd broken eight ribs.
Ambulance crews were called to deal with the situation and requested assistance from Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Initial assessments revealed that Joe couldn’t move from the waist down and was experiencing numbness and tingling in his legs, prompting serious concerns among the medical team. There were fears he may have injured his spine.
READ MORE: Vile brute allows puppies to attack duck in garden before wringing its neck
“As a horse rider, you never think these things will happen to you," Joe said. "I’ve ridden horses for three decades, but it all happened so quickly. I can’t thank the Yorkshire Air Ambulance team enough for the incredible care they gave me that day—they made a frightening experience so much more manageable”.
The team administered a high dose of morphine to alleviate Joe’s severe pain and decided to move him from the cold ground to the the land ambulance for further assessment.
Once inside the ambulance, Joe’s condition improved slightly, and he was able to move his toes. He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary. He spent three days in the hospital recovering from his injuries and is continuing his rehabilitation at home.
His story is set to be told on television show Yorkshire Air 999, airing on Quest on Friday, November 29, at 9pm.
Get all the latest and breaking North Yorkshire news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter here.
