Lifesaving Critical Care from the Sky: How Air Ambulances Respond to Equestrian Emergencies

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Air Ambulances UK (AAUK) is the national charity supporting the lifesaving work of the UK’s 21 air ambulance charities – many of which are regularly called out to horse riding incidents in rural and remote areas.

Across the UK, air ambulance charities bring the Emergency Department directly to patients at the scene of life-threatening or life-changing emergencies, including serious equestrian accidents. On average, an air ambulance can reach someone in urgent need within just 16 minutes.

Air ambulance charities are dispatched to more than 45,000 missions every year. These include over 1,000 sporting incidents annually – many involving horse riders, whether out hacking, eventing, or exercising young horses. Despite providing an essential, advanced medical service, air ambulance charities are not government funded. Each mission costs on average £4,110 and is almost entirely funded by donations, partnerships and support from local communities.

AAUK raises national funds to invest in the air ambulance community and works to influence key areas of policy, safety, funding and innovation. Through our national support, and the tireless efforts of the individual air ambulance charities across the country, together we are working to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients in urgent need of pre-hospital critical care.

Air ambulance crews are made up of highly trained paramedics, doctors, nurses and pilots who work in high-pressure, time-critical situations. They are equipped with advanced medical equipment, allowing them to deliver treatments at the scene that are usually only available in hospital, such as blood transfusions, anaesthesia, and surgical interventions.

Responding to equestrian incidents

Equestrian activities are a much-loved part of life in the UK, but they can also be unpredictable. When a rider falls, is thrown, trampled or kicked, the resulting injuries can be severe – and many incidents occur in remote areas that are difficult to access by road.

This is where air ambulance charities play a vital role. With the ability to land in open countryside or fields, helicopters can access areas that would otherwise be difficult or time-consuming for a land ambulance to reach. That speed and access can make a life-saving difference.

One rider who knows this all too well is Caroline, who was airlifted by Devon Air Ambulance after a serious fall from her horse on Aylesbeare Common.

Caroline’s story

Caroline was enjoying a ride with her friend Holly when her Clydesdale horse, Clyde, was unexpectedly spooked by a noise in the hedgerow. Although Clyde is a gentle giant – a 17.3hh purebred Clydesdale – he bolted in panic, rearing and broncing repeatedly.

Caroline held on through the first few leaps but was thrown during the third. She recalled:“As Clyde bolted, I remember shouting out to Holly, ‘Here we go again, this is going to hurt!’ Within seconds I hit the ground – it was a rough track, covered in stones and rubble.”

She landed hard on her right side, immediately feeling pain in her hip and shoulder. Clyde galloped off across the common, and Holly was left managing her own horse and Caroline’s, while calling out for help.

Fortunately, two walkers – one a nurse – stopped to assist and called 999. Help was quickly on the way.

Devon Air Ambulance’s Exeter-based helicopter happened to be returning to base after being stood down from a previous call. When the crew received the emergency alert, they diverted and arrived at the scene within minutes.

Caroline recalled:“It felt like the helicopter had arrived so quickly – maybe four or five minutes after the call. We were told the helicopter was on its way, and almost immediately we heard it overhead.”

As she heard the helicopter land, Caroline began to cry – not just from pain, but from the overwhelming sense of relief that help was arriving. Her injuries were significant, and her fingers were going numb and tingly – a possible sign of neurological involvement.

The attending crew included Specialist Paramedic Cat McMorrow, Dr Lauren Weekes, and Pilot Richard Applegarth. Caroline later discovered that Cat herself had been airlifted by Devon Air Ambulance 15 years earlier, after falling from her own horse. That experience made her both medically and personally attuned to Caroline’s situation – and to how to handle horses in the midst of a crisis.

“The crew were brilliant from the moment they arrived. They kept me calm, treated me with great care and compassion, and even shielded my eyes from the sun as I lay on the stretcher. I felt in very safe hands.”

The crew also faced a rather unusual challenge: the wild horses on the common were drawn to the helicopter, and were curious rather than alarmed by it. As Specialist Paramedic Cat made a call to the hospital, she noticed the wild ponies attempting to nibble the aircraft.

Once stabilised, Caroline was airlifted to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. X-rays confirmed that she had fractured her shoulder socket and suffered extensive bruising to her hip. Her riding helmet protected her from head injury, and she remained conscious throughout.

While her recovery is ongoing, Caroline remains positive and is already thinking about getting back in the saddle.

“I’m not overly nervous about riding again – although I guess I won’t know until I’m sat in the saddle. This is my third accident with Clyde in the last eight years, so here’s hoping he behaves himself this time!”

Caroline’s gratitude to Devon Air Ambulance is clear.

“I can’t thank the crew enough. They were able to really keep my spirits up while helping me at the scene and on board the helicopter. I even got a call from their Patient and Family Support team a few days later to see how I was doing – they were just wonderful.

“Our local horse shop and café have kindly offered to help us with some fundraising, so we’ll be doing something soon to support Devon Air Ambulance. All I can say is that I’m truly thankful to everyone who donates to make this care possible.”

Supporting lifesaving work

Caroline’s story is just one example of how vital air ambulance services are to the equestrian world. Whether you’re a casual rider, a competitive eventer, or work with horses every day, accidents can happen. When they do, having a skilled team of medics in the air – ready to deliver critical care and transport to hospital – can be the difference between life and death.

At Air Ambulances UK, we are proud to support and champion this extraordinary network of charities. We raise national funds to benefit the whole sector, and advocate on key issues – from legislation and funding, to innovation and safety.

We know that equestrian communities value and support their local air ambulance services – many riders and yards already take part in fundraising or display awareness materials. If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved, donate, or find out about the impact of air ambulances in your area, we’d love to hear from you.

To read more stories, explore our campaigns, or discover how you can support both your local air ambulance and the national work we do, please visit:www.airambulancesuk.org