Breast cancer survivor dies fulfilling dream of riding horse on beach
A woman who survived breast cancer was tragically killed while fulfilling her dream of riding a horse along a beach, an inquest has heard.
Geraldine Murray-Jones, 51, died at Llangennith Beach on the Gower coastline of South Wales after falling from her horse on 27 July 2014.
She had written a wish list of things she wanted to do after recovering from breast cancer.
She had gone riding with her friend, Brioni Sellar, 49, who kept two horses, called Hector and Billy, near the beach.
Geraldine was on Hector, who was described as the more placid of the two horses.
According to the Daily Mail, Brioni said: "Gerry had really been looking forward to it. She loved horses and the views.
"I had been there a couple of days and Gerry travelled down to meet up with us. She was on Hector who was the more calm, placid and laid back of my horses. She was laughing out loud as we went through the dunes.
"I had been out riding on the beach a couple of days before with my partner and the horse was fine with the sand and waves."
The women started to canter along the beach, but when Ms Sellar turned to check on Geraldine, who was an experienced rider, she had fallen off and was lying on her back on the sand.
A passing runner helped put Mrs Jones in the recovery position and administered first aid while waiting for the coastguard to arrive.
An air ambulance was scrambled to the beach but Mrs Jones was pronounced dead at the scene at 9.30am.
According to the Mirror, Brioni added: "I have no idea at all what happened and how she fell. I really don't know. There were no potholes or ripples on the beach."
A pathologist report gave the cause of death as traumatic brain injury and a skull fracture, despite the fact she was wearing a helmet.
Geraldine, of Fownhope, Herefordshire, had worked as the head of marketing and communications at St Michael's Hospice near Hereford when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010.
Swansea coroner Colin Phillips recorded a verdict of accidental death, and offered his condolences to her heartbroken husband, Tim, and their two children, Olly, 16, and Henry, 12, reports the BBC.
Friends and colleagues described her as a "devoted mother" and a "positive and outgoing person" with a "vibrant personality and a zest for life".
Related articles
Man rides horse into train station and threatens to whip staff with crop
Five horses killed in train crash near Middlesborough
Woman killed on African holiday in horse trek tragedy
