A mother who beat breast cancer fulfilled a bucket-list wish of riding a horse on a beach – only to be tragically killed when she fell off, an inquest heard.
One of 51-year-old Geraldine Murray-Jones’s lifetime ambitions was to gallop on horseback across a deserted beach.
The mum-of-two travelled 100 miles to a stunning giant Welsh beach and “laughed out loud” as she rode out with a friend to fulfil her dream.
But an inquest today heard she suddenly fell off the cantering horse and landed heavily on her head onto the sand.
Her friend Briony Sellar and a passing jogger administered first aid – and a coastguard rescue team was sent. But she died at the scene from severe head injuries.
Geraldine, who was wearing a helmet, was an experienced rider but had never before galloped on sand.
Briony, 49, told the inquest how she keeps two of her own horses called Billy and Hector near the beach at Gower, South Wales – and offered to take Geraldine on her dream horseride.
She said: “Gerry had really been looking forward to it. She loved horses and the views.
“I had been there a couple of days and Gerry travelled down to meet up with us. She was on Hector who was the more calm, placid and laid back of my horses. She was laughing out loud as we went through the dunes.
“I had been out riding on the beach a couple of days before with my partner and the horse was fine with the sand and waves.
“Gerry and I went out on the sand and I was riding on ahead at a canter. I turned around to see how she was faring and saw her lying on her back on the sand.
“Hector was staring to trot towards me on his own. ”
Briony couldn’t get to unresponsive Geraldine to perform CPR because the horses were “spooked”. She flagged down a runner who put Geraldine in the recovery position – and Briony ran off to ask nearby anglers to raise the coastguard.
Briony – a qualified nurse and riding instructor – said: “I have no idea at all what happened and how she fell. I really don’t know. There were no potholes or ripples on the beach”.
The inquest heard Geraldine suffered a fractured skull and died from brain injuries.
Her husband Tim, 53, and two sons, Olly, 16, and 12-year-old Henry, were heartbroken by the tragic accident at Llangennith Beach on the Gower coastline of South Wales.
Geraldine, of Fownhope, Herefordshire, worked was the head of marketing and communications at St Michael’s Hospice near Hereford when she was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago.
She underwent chemotherapy and when she was given the all-clear Geraldine drew up a “wish list” of things she had always wanted to do.
South Wales Police investigating officer PC Gareth Jenkins told the Swansea inquest: “She was a very positive and outgoing person, a devoted mother who cared a lot about her friends.
“Through her work in the hospice she became passionate about issues in Herefordshire.”
The inquest heard Geraldine has spent a lot of time on horses when she was younger – and wanted to enjoy the thrill of riding again.
Swansea coroner Colin Phillips sent his condolences to the family. He recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Acting senior coroner Colin Phillips said: “Geraldine’s equipment were satisfactory and she was with an experienced horse riding instructor, and was an experienced rider herself.
“The helmet she was wearing was her own helmet. Ms Sellars said it was checked before and it was a well-fitting helmet.
“I offer my condolences to Mr Jones and family. An unexpected death is extremely difficult to cope with.”
Staff at the hospice where she worked were in tears after being told of the tragedy in July last year.
Chief Executive Nicky West said: “Geraldine’s vibrant personality and zest for life made an enormous contribution to St Michael’s.
“Geraldine’s love of life brought joy to the people she spent time with. Her sudden death is a shock, leaving friends and former colleagues saddened and in tears. She will be greatly missed.”
Breast cancer survivor mum fulfilled bucket-list wish of riding horse on beach only to be killed falling off
Claim faucet bitcoins from Easy Bitcoin Faucet. 11 to 33 satoshis per 10 minutes.
ReplyDelete