Flying Lawyer
10th Jun 2004, 21:07
PA News report An experienced woman horserider was killed after her horse panicked following noise from a low-flying RAF helicopter, an inquest heard today.
Melanie Stephenson Dodds, 39, was riding with a friend on a grass verge by the A48 in the Caerwent area of south Wales when the incident happened on December 17 last year.
Gwent coroner David Bowen recorded a verdict of Accidental Death.
The Newport inquest heard that the loud noise of a low-flying RAF helicopter on a planned training exercise could be heard around the time the horse Ms Stephenson Dodds was riding bolted. Mr Bowen said Ms Stephenson Dodds was “an experienced and proficient horserider”.
Ms Stephenson Dodds, a mother-of-two, and her friend Sonia Jones were riding in the direction of the traffic towards the Newport area when their horses panicked. Mrs Jones managed to bring her horse under control, but Ms Stephenson Dodds struggled to gain control and her horse bolted into the path of a car.
Mrs Jones told the inquest she knew the helicopter was low-flying “from the noise”. She said that after the accident she tried to stop traffic and the helicopter carried on.
Motorist Jennifer Williams, who was driving a white Mazda on the day of the incident, told how she heard a “loud helicopter-type sound”. She said: “He was quite low, as I could see him through my windscreen.” Mrs Williams said she saw white legs coming towards her before hearing a bang.
Darren Williams, who was also driving in the area at the time, told how he heard the helicopter and saw the horse go into the road and collide with the Mazda. He said: “The young lady was thrown off the horse. She was trying to regain control of the horse.” He said the rider was still on the horse when it collided with the vehicle. Mr Williams said: “She hit the floor and the horse rolled on top of her. “It went across the other side of the carriageway. My father and myself caught hold of the horse.”
RAF statement
A statement read to the hearing by Flight Lieutenant Piers Hammond, serving with the RAF, said authorisation had been given for the exercise and areas to be aware of were checked.
He said instruction was given on avoiding farms and built-up areas as well as the dangers of low flying above horses.
Crew members were unaware of the incident and were informed on their return to base, the hearing was told. The crew had discussed how to avoid hazards at a pre-flight briefing. Warning devices were in place to prevent the aircraft going below the low-flying limit – and these were not activated during the sortie, the inquest heard.
David Bowen, the Coroner said :
“It is said by the personnel in the helicopter they were not flying below 45 feet but below 100 feet. The noise difference would have made not the slightest bit of difference to this incident.”
Mr Bowen said that as long as the armed forces existed it was essential that crews were fully trained in all manner of conditions and terrain.
He said it was almost inevitable, despite care being taken, that there was a risk of animals and livestock being encountered during low-flying exercises.
“Nine times out of ten, that encounter has no serious consequences,” he said. The crew were unaware of the horse and rider prior to the incident and the spooking of the horse was “unintended and unforeseen”.
After the hearing, Ms Stephenson Dodds’s father Keith told reporters that, although it was necessary for such exercises to take place, there should be an inquiry into whether they should take place in the area of the accident.
Melanie Stephenson Dodds, 39, was riding with a friend on a grass verge by the A48 in the Caerwent area of south Wales when the incident happened on December 17 last year.
Gwent coroner David Bowen recorded a verdict of Accidental Death.
The Newport inquest heard that the loud noise of a low-flying RAF helicopter on a planned training exercise could be heard around the time the horse Ms Stephenson Dodds was riding bolted. Mr Bowen said Ms Stephenson Dodds was “an experienced and proficient horserider”.
Ms Stephenson Dodds, a mother-of-two, and her friend Sonia Jones were riding in the direction of the traffic towards the Newport area when their horses panicked. Mrs Jones managed to bring her horse under control, but Ms Stephenson Dodds struggled to gain control and her horse bolted into the path of a car.
Mrs Jones told the inquest she knew the helicopter was low-flying “from the noise”. She said that after the accident she tried to stop traffic and the helicopter carried on.
Motorist Jennifer Williams, who was driving a white Mazda on the day of the incident, told how she heard a “loud helicopter-type sound”. She said: “He was quite low, as I could see him through my windscreen.” Mrs Williams said she saw white legs coming towards her before hearing a bang.
Darren Williams, who was also driving in the area at the time, told how he heard the helicopter and saw the horse go into the road and collide with the Mazda. He said: “The young lady was thrown off the horse. She was trying to regain control of the horse.” He said the rider was still on the horse when it collided with the vehicle. Mr Williams said: “She hit the floor and the horse rolled on top of her. “It went across the other side of the carriageway. My father and myself caught hold of the horse.”
RAF statement
A statement read to the hearing by Flight Lieutenant Piers Hammond, serving with the RAF, said authorisation had been given for the exercise and areas to be aware of were checked.
He said instruction was given on avoiding farms and built-up areas as well as the dangers of low flying above horses.
Crew members were unaware of the incident and were informed on their return to base, the hearing was told. The crew had discussed how to avoid hazards at a pre-flight briefing. Warning devices were in place to prevent the aircraft going below the low-flying limit – and these were not activated during the sortie, the inquest heard.
David Bowen, the Coroner said :
“It is said by the personnel in the helicopter they were not flying below 45 feet but below 100 feet. The noise difference would have made not the slightest bit of difference to this incident.”
Mr Bowen said that as long as the armed forces existed it was essential that crews were fully trained in all manner of conditions and terrain.
He said it was almost inevitable, despite care being taken, that there was a risk of animals and livestock being encountered during low-flying exercises.
“Nine times out of ten, that encounter has no serious consequences,” he said. The crew were unaware of the horse and rider prior to the incident and the spooking of the horse was “unintended and unforeseen”.
After the hearing, Ms Stephenson Dodds’s father Keith told reporters that, although it was necessary for such exercises to take place, there should be an inquiry into whether they should take place in the area of the accident.