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Rampaging horse prompts chaos at Pembrokeshire County Show, injuring eight people

Animal 'threw its rider and jumped a fence into the crowd', say organisers

Jon Sharman
Wednesday 15 August 2018 18:25 BST
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Wales Air Ambulance lands at the Pembrokeshire County Show after a horse escaped its pen and injured a number of people
Wales Air Ambulance lands at the Pembrokeshire County Show after a horse escaped its pen and injured a number of people (Wales News Service)

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Eight people including a child have been injured after a horse broke out of its enclosure at the Pembrokeshire County Show, scattering onlookers in a “rampage”.

Police and paramedics were called to the event after the animal escaped a show area.

A witness told the BBC: “A horse, presumably a show-jumping horse, seemed to break free from the area it was being held and just went on a rampage.”

The show’s organisers said the horse “threw its rider and jumped a fence into the crowd”.

A police cordon at the Pembrokeshire County Show, following a ‘rampage’ by an escaped horse
A police cordon at the Pembrokeshire County Show, following a ‘rampage’ by an escaped horse (Wales News Service)

They added: “Five people were taken to hospital including a 12-year-old boy and an 83-year-male. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

“Medical crews on duty at the Withybush showground helped treat the injured along with other members of the emergency services. An air ambulance attended the scene but was not required.

Welsh Ambulance Services said it was called to the showground at 2.34pm.

Mike Davies, the chairman of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s board of trustees, said in a statement: “At the moment our thoughts are with those who were injured”

“We also want to thank the emergency services who were on the scene very quickly and assisted the injured.”

The county show, which runs from 14 to 16 August, is a celebration of local produce and livestock. It is held near Haverfordwest.

Events would continue as planned on Thursday, organisers said.

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