An injured rider thrown from a horse was rescued when a police helicopter spotted her lying in a field.
The 18-year-old girl was riding a horse north of Stevens Farm near Bullwood Hall Lane, Hockley, when it suddenly bolted.
The girl was thrown to the ground and landed on her lower spine, sending a shooting pain up her back and she was unable to get up.
Meanwhile Essex Police's air support unit was returning to Boreham from Canvey where it had helped make arrests over a burglary at 1pm on Monday.
Helicopter pilot PC Mark Chapple said: "We overheard on the radio about a riderless horse near The Chase area.
"We were flying low because of the poor weather and decided to take a look.
"The pilot spotted someone on the ground and we could see the tracks left by the horse after it bolted.
"We landed on a sloping, muddy field and I ran across to her."
Essex Air Ambulance was then called as paramedics on the ground could only park a quarter of a mile away. The girl was carried to the helicopter and flown to Southend Hospital where she was treated for back injuries.
Published Wednesday January 7, 2004
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