A LEAVING Certificate student died after sustaining head injuries when thrown from her horse four weeks before Christmas.
An inquest in Galway yesterday was told Patricia Lynch (17) had been doing what she loved most, riding her horse through the countryside, when she suffered the injuries.
The popular teenager from Latoon, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare, was with dozens of other riders taking part in the Turkey Trotters hunt in Crusheen on Sunday, November 28th, last when she fell.
The seasonal hunt does not involve chasing animals but is a hack through the countryside.
The inquest was told Ms Lynch, who was due to sit her Leaving Cert at St Flannan’s College in Ennis in June this year, had helped save many other lives by the donation of her organs.
Leonard Fawl, one of the riders taking part, told Galway West coroner Ciaran McLoughlin he saw Ms Lynch jumping a wall but her horse struck it and somersaulted, throwing Ms Lynch forward, head first. He raced immediately to help her. “I could see that she was seriously injured,” said Mr Fawl, who confirmed to Dr McLoughlin she had been wearing a helmet.
Other members of the hunt arrived at the scene to help, followed shortly afterwards by paramedics who provided emergency medical attention.
Paramedic Laurence O’Doherty said when he reached Ms Lynch she was lying on her left-hand side. Her riding helmet had been removed and she was unresponsive. A specialist paramedic provided additional medical attention.