by Kathryn Boast
13 October 2010
A woman who died from a head injury after being thrown from her horse would probably have survived if she was wearing a helmet, an inquest was told yesterday.
Christina Broderick, 50, was thrown from her horse while on a casual hack near her home in June this year. Her partner Anthony Gagon, who was riding with her, was leading the way along a winding gravel track when he heard Ms Broderick cry out. Her horse, which she had ridden for a while and knew well, appeared without her and Mr Gagon rushed round the corner of the road to find his partner lying with blood coming out of her ear.
Consultant pathologist Dr Mark Atkinson told the inquest that Ms Broderick, who was airlifted to hospital in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in North Wales, died from a severe fracture the back of her skull.
The Daily Post also quotes Dr Atkinson as saying that a helmet would have made the injury ‘certainly less.’
Recording a verdict of accidental death, North Wales Central Coroner John Hughes said: “What spooked the horse we will never know but whatever it was must have been very unusual. Something happened beyond her control and the consequences were catastrophic.”
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said that while it is not a legal requirement for adults to wear a helmet while riding on roads, it is “strongly recommended”.