A TEENAGER was airlifted to hospital after being kicked by a horse, in what has been described as a “freak accident” at an event in Powys over the weekend.
The incident occurred at the Welsh Pony and Cob Society (WPCS) sale, which was held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, on Sunday, October 22.
The teen, a 16-year-old boy, was reportedly kicked in the chest and flung into the air at the event.
Emergency medical aid was administered within minutes and the boy was resuscitated before regaining consciousness and being flown by the Wales Air Ambulance to hospital in Cardiff.
Event organisers reported that the boy is now in a stable condition.
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The incident happened in a show ring at the showground at around 3.40pm on Sunday, with various emergency services crews responding, while first aid was also administered within minutes by a First Responder at the scene.
On Monday, the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, together with the WPCS and official auctioneers McCartneys, released a joint statement.
“The third day of the Welsh Pony and Cob Society Autumn sale hosted by official auctioneers McCartneys, at the Royal Welsh Showground, saw an incident where a vendor’s assistant was kicked by a foal and required medical attention,” it said.
“The 16-year-old individual was airlifted to the University Hospital, Cardiff where an update this morning is that he is in a stable condition.
“His family have asked the WPCS and McCartneys to thank all persons involved in his care during the incident for their support.”
A Dyfed Powys Police spokesperson said: “On Sunday, October 22, at approximately 3.40pm, a 16-year-old boy was kicked by a horse in the ring.
“First aid was delivered within minutes by a first responder, and the boy regained consciousness.
He was flown to the Heath Hospital for further care.”
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called yesterday at around 3.43pm to reports of a medical emergency at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells.
“We sent two emergency ambulances, one rapid response vehicle and one community first responder to the scene, where our crews were support by the emergency medical retrieval and transfer service on board Wales Air Ambulance.
“One patient was flown to University Hospital of Wales.”
A Wales Air Ambulance spokesperson added: “The Wales Air Ambulance attended an incident in the Builth Wells area on Sunday afternoon.
“A team from Dafen attended by air and arrived on scene at 4.20pm. Our involvement concluded at 6.45pm.”
In a post on Facebook in the aftermath of the incident, the WPCS said: “Following an incident this afternoon at the official Welsh Pony and Cob Society sale at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Showground, a vendor's assistant is now in a stable condition and has been taken to a Cardiff Hospital.
“Following a period of postponement, the sale has now reconvened. Official auctioneers McCartney and the WPCS would like to thank all salegoers for their assistance and understanding this afternoon.”
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