Teen who fell off horse 'slowly wakes from coma'

A teenage horse rider who was severely injured during a point-to-point race is slowly waking from an induced coma, her father has said.

Maisy, 15, suffered multiple bleeds on the brain after the accident at Hincheslea in the New Forest during a point-to-point race on Boxing Day.

A close family friend set up a fundraiser for her relatives that has attracted donations of more than £23,000.

On Facebook, Maisy's father Lee, from Ashurst, said she had started to move her head, mouth words and squeeze hands in hospital.

He posted: "We wanted to share with you that Maisy is slowly being woken from her deep sleep... This process is likely to take at least a few more weeks.

"Maisy is now breathing without a breathing tube and holding strong even with a nasty chest infection (standard for being laid so long and tubed)."

Lee said he was "incredibly proud" of Maisy's fighting spirit.

He added: "I'd also like to say how proud I am of my youngest Emily who's been a star as looking after the puppy at home, doing the horses, bravely going to visit her sister and really asking great questions!"

Previously, family friend Sally Marsh, who is from Boldre and set up the fundraiser, said Maisy was an "accomplished rider" and "a lovely kid doing something she absolutely loved".

"It was just an unfortunate trip by the pony and it just shows you how quick accidents can happen," she said.

She added that Maisy was wearing a helmet "which inevitably saved her life".

The teenager is being treated in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Southampton General Hospital.

Lee said the family would be fundraising for both PICU and the air ambulance in due course.

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