Tragedy of horse rider in big fall

A Staffordshire grandmother who was left paralysed following a fall off a horse died more than a year later after contracting pneumonia, an inquest heard.

The inquest on Michele Sampson was held at Cannock Coroner's Court yesterday.

A post mortem revealed she had died from broncho-pneumonia on December 13 last year following an injury to her spine.

Mrs Sampson, of Coton Fields, Stafford, was 47 at the time of the accident, which took place on fields just off Tixall Road on August 29, 2008.

The inquest heardd that she had been riding a friend's horse when she fell from the animal in front of her daughter, Maria, who was 10 at the time.

Mrs Sampson received serious injuries and was in the University Hospital of North Staffordshire for months before being transferred to Briar Hill House care home in Rugeley where she died.

Speaking at the inquest, her daughter Vicky Barnes said her mother had been a very experienced horse rider. "She had owned horses all of her life."

Mrs Margaret Jones, assistant deputy coroner for Staffordshire South, re-corded a verdict of accidental death.Mrs Sampson, was married to husband Richard and had three daughters and four grandchildren.