'Phenomenal' response after teen's horse fall

The organiser of a fundraiser for the family of a teenage girl who is in a coma after she fell from a horse says the response has been "phenomenal".

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

Close family friend Sally Marsh set up a fundraiser for her family, which has raised more than £21,000.

She said dad Lee, who is a self-employed, single father-of-two, has not left his daughter's side and told her "he cannot thank people enough".

Marsh, from Boldre, said she had known the family from Ashurst for decades, as they were all a part of the commoner community in the New Forest.

She said they were all still in "shock" as 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 fortunately Maisy was wearing a helmet "which inevitably saved her life".

The teen was taken to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Southampton General Hospital where she remains in a coma.

Marsh said: "Until they wake her up they don't know what damage has been caused."

She described her dad Lee as "absolutely exhausted both physically and emotionally".

"Everything from hospital parking charges to time off work, it all adds up and it's an unnecessary stress for him," said Marsh.

She said the support had been "phenomenal" and the family wanted to put some of the money raised towards Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and the PICU in Southampton.

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