Children are more at risk of serious head injury than adults in falls from horses, a medical expert has said. Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster was speaking at an inquest into the death of a young boy who was fatally injured after a horse bolted while he and his uncle were riding the animal bareback.
Patrick McCarthy (7) never regained consciousness after falling from a middle sized horse at the Spring Lane Halting Site in Blackpool, Cork on 17th August 2013, Cork City Coroner's Court heard today.
Richard McCarthy, the boy’s uncle, told how he had been riding the horse belonging to his father when Patrick asked if he could go for a ride with him. He initially refused but when his nephew began to cry, he relented and put him on the horse behind him, riding bareback.
While they were riding around the halting site some terriers ran out and snapped at horse’s legs. The horse was spooked and reared up twice, On the second occasion, both he and his nephew were thrown from the animal, said Mr McCarthy.
The boy's uncle, Kieran McCarthy, said he went to the scene when he heard a commotion and found Patrick on the ground unconscious, bleeding from the mouth and ear. Together with Patrick's mother Helen, he drove the little boy to the Mercy University Hospital (MUH).
The boy’s father said that his brother Richard had permission to ride the horse. His son had ridden the horse before under supervision.
According to Det Sgt Kieran O’Sullivan, the young boy never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead a short time later at MUH. Gardaí were satisfied from their investigation that it was a tragic accident which happened as witnesses had stated.
Dr Bolster said at the inquest there was evidence from medical literature that children were more vulnerable to head injuries than adults in falls from horses, saying horse riding was “a dangerous sport”.
Dr Bolster said Patrick Jnr died from brain swelling and traumatic bleeding to the brain.
Cork City Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane, returned a verdict of accidental death and extended her sympathy to Patrick’s parents, calling it a “dreadful loss” for the couple.
