Chloe Smith, 27, from West Lutton near Malton, will be the focus of the upcoming episode of Yorkshire Air 999, airing on Really at 9 PM on Friday, March 7th. The episode will spotlight the rapid response of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s (YAA) critical care team after Chloe was seriously injured in a fall from her horse.
Chloe was returning to the stables after a routine winter hack when her young horse, Comet, spooked at a puddle. The sudden movement caused Chloe to lose her balance, and she fell heavily to the ground, landing awkwardly on her leg and feeling immediate, intense pain. As Chloe struggled on the ground, Comet, sensing something was wrong, acted quickly to seek help. The horse approached a nearby postman who was getting into his van. The postman noticed the horse was alone and, realising Chloe was missing, followed Comet back to where she lay. After calling 999, he helped Chloe alert her partner and family. Throughout the ordeal, Comet refused to leave Chloe’s side, staying with her until friends arrived to take him home and ensure he was safe while Chloe received the urgent care she needed.
Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s critical care team, based at Nostell, was dispatched 36 miles to the scene. The team, including Dr Steve Rowe and specialist paramedic Sam Berridge, arrived prepared for the kind of serious injuries often seen in equestrian accidents. After assessing Chloe’s injuries, Dr Rowe confirmed she had fractured and dislocated her ankle but thankfully did not suffer an open fracture. “Ankle injuries can be serious if the blood supply is disrupted, nerves are damaged, or the skin is affected,” Dr Rowe explained. “However, while Chloe’s bones were broken, the soft tissues around them remained intact, which was a positive sign.”
To manage Chloe’s severe pain, she was given gas and air before Dr. Rowe carefully realigned her leg and secured it in a vacuum splint to minimise movement during transport. Despite the pain, Chloe’s thoughts remained with Comet. “She loves her horse and riding is her life,” said Chloe’s mum, Linda Hoggard. “So I know it will be breaking her heart to not be able to do the sport she loves while she recovers.”
Once Chloe’s condition was stabilised, she was transferred by YAA and a local land ambulance team to Scarborough General Hospital, where a specialist team was ready to perform surgery. Chloe’s ankle was repaired with a plate and six screws, and she is now fully committed to her recovery.
Reflecting on the accident, Chloe shared, “This has been the worst pain I’ve ever experienced – I’d rather go through labour again than break my leg, which says a lot! I’ve been visiting Comet daily during my recovery, and even though I can’t ride him yet, just spending time with him keeps me going. I did have a cheeky sit on him, but that’s as far as I’ll be going for now! Mentally, I want to be back in the saddle, but I know I need to wait until I’m 100% ready. I can’t wait for that day! I am so grateful to the YAA team – they were brilliant and helped me so much in my time of need.”
The latest episode of Yorkshire Air 999 also highlights the critical role of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as it responds to a range of emergencies, including a motorcyclist who collided with a car, a 76-year-old walker who broke seven ribs in the dales, and a cyclist thrown 30 feet from his bike after hitting a speed bump.
For more information about the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and how to support their lifesaving work, visit www.yaa.org.uk.
