Second Horse Rider found Dead
Second horse rider found dead
Helen Carter
Wednesday October 20, 2004
The Guardian
The body of a woman has been found a few miles from the spot in Lincolnshire where a novice rider was thrown off and killed after the horse bolted as a Chinook helicopter flew overhead.
Horse rider Ann Smith's body was discovered in a lane at Waddingham, just a few miles from Manor Farm, Market Rasen, where Heather Bell died in June last year.
An inquest into the death of Mrs Bell, 38, was opened in Market Rasen on Monday. Within hours of the hearing beginning, the body of Mrs Smith, 50, from Scawby Brook, Lincolnshire, was found, amid speculation that her horse might have been spooked by military aircraft.
It emerged that Mrs Smith's horse had bolted at about 1.30pm that day. Her body was discovered shortly after a riderless horse had been seen by a member of the public.
Lincolnshire police said they could not confirm reports that a military aircraft had been involved.
A spokesman said that they were investigating numerous lines of inquiry to establish how Mrs Smith died. Police had as yet been unable to trace any witnesses.
A postmortem examination failed to establish a cause of death and further forensic science tests are due to take place over the next few days.
An inquest into Mrs Smith's death will be opened and adjourned tomorrow. The inquest on Mrs Bell continues.