Minister’s sister suffers brain injury in fall

Rider in intensive care after accident during Badminton Horse Trials cross-country contest

THE sister of a government minister has suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling from her ride during the Badminton Horse Trials.

Emily Gilruth, the older sister of Matt Hancock, a minister in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, was competing in the country’s top eventing competition when she had to be airlifted to Bristol’s Southmead Hospital.

The 40-year-old, from Malpas in Cheshire, is in intensive care after she fell from her 14-year-old gelding Topwood Beau at the third fence of the cross-country course on Saturday. Julian Seaman, from the Badminton Trials, saw the accident and said either the rider or the horse had misjudged the distance of the jump.

“It was surprisingly early on that she had a hiccup like that but … every course is a challenge,” he said.

In a statement, her family said yesterday afternoon: “Emily’s family would like to thank all the many wellwishers for the lovely supportive messages that they have received.

“The doctors are pleased with her progress. She has had a stable night and remains under sedation.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to Badminton’s medical team, for their efficient and very caring service, also to the staff in the intensive care unit at Southmead.”

Her brother-in-law Andrew Gilruth told The Daily Telegraph: “With any significant injury it’s going to be about a week before anybody knows, but she’s Emily Gilruth, above, and pictured just before her fall at Badminton, top. Right: her brother Matt Hancock is a junior minister heading in the right direction. There’s no indication that it’s not all recoverable, the problem is we just don’t know yet... you just have to wait and see how it progresses. All the medical support was there, you couldn’t ask for any more than that.”

Mr Hancock, who also takes a keen interest in horses and trained as a jockey, has not commented publicly on his sister’s accident. The politician, who is standing for re-election in West Suffolk, has spent six years campaigning to reform the horse racing industry so that betting firms, including those offshore, pay a levy on their profits.

Friends who witnessed the accident described their concern for the mother-of-two on social media.

One said: “I have seen too many head injuries over the years... it can be a long road back to full health. She is fit and strong and still young so she has much going for her.”

Gemma Tattershall, a British Olympic event rider, wrote on Facebook that the early news she had heard was “very encouraging”. She added: “Keep fighting Emily... your eventing family are behind you.

Mrs Gilruth has been described by friends as a highly experienced rider. She has competed in British event competitions for 18 years and runs her own yard.

She first competed at Badminton last year and was riding a horse – Topwood Beau – that she has ridden in competitions since 2008.

The Badminton trials are known as the Wimbledon of the eventing world and feature the world’s top riders and carry the highest prize money, with £100,000 for the winner.

Mr Seaman said: “It’s literally the top 80 protagonists of the sport. If she [Gilruth] qualified to get there she effectively is one of the top people – it’s very stringent.”

The event consists of dressage, cross-country and showjumping, with Saturday’s cross-country phase being described as “the bravery element”.