Charlotte Collison, 12, fell from her horse Rory while out riding with a friend in Blackleach Lane, Catforth, near Preston.

The Ashton Community Science College pupil, of Blackpool Road, Ashton, died from her injuries in hospital on August 19.

Her mother Julie told the inquest at Preston Coroner's Court that Charlotte had been riding horses since she was six and was well able to control Rory, a cob horse.

She said: "We had Rory for 12 months. His temper is absolutely fantastic, he is just the perfect first horse.

"He is fantastic on the road – lorries, anything, can go past him and he does not bother."

Mrs Collison broke down in tears as she told the inquest that her daughter's friend had no idea what caused Charlotte to fall off as they approached a motorway bridge on their way home.

She said: "Charlotte's friend was in front – Charlotte preferred to ride at the back.

"They were approaching the bridge and her friend said the next thing she knew, Rory went past her without Charlotte on him.

"As she turned round, she saw Charlotte on the ground. Her friend said there was nothing she could think of that could have spooked Rory. No vehicles had gone past them."

The inquest heard Charlotte, who has two younger brothers, never rode without a suitable riding hat but had suffered a skull fracture in the fall, which happened in August last year.

Dr Kenneth McGrattan, a consultant in anaesthetics in intensive care at Royal Preston Hospital, said: "It was quite clearly a very significant injury."

Coroner Dr James Adeley ruled that Charlotte's death was an accident caused by a brain injury and brain swelling.

He said: "This was a desperately sad case of a young girl doing what she loved and falling from her horse.

"There was not anything that could have been prevented against.

"She died due to an accident which, in this case, was extreme bad luck."

Charlotte's dad Graham said the family was satisfied with the coroner's verdict.

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