PENSIONER Jean Sanderson is back in the saddle after being dramatically rescued following a fall from her pony on the North York Moors.

Despite her pain she dragged herself half-way up a hill in an effort to reach help and then spent several days in hospital with a badly bruised hip.

And paramedics from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance have praised the courage of the 74-year-old, who is now re-united with her beloved New Forest pony Roe Down.

Mrs Sanderson, a retired farmer, was riding on her farm at Fangdale Beck, near Chopgate, when she was thrown.

“I went to see some sheep and the pony may have caught a hole or something but she dipped down on one leg and I came off,” she said.

“I thought I had broken my pelvis, but I dragged myself on my hands and knees up the field as far as I could to try and get help. I don’t carry a mobile when I’m riding in case it goes off and startles the pony.”

Her pony made it’s way back to the farmhouse and stood by the back door, alerting Jean’s husband and son that something was wrong. They promptly raised the alarm and went looking for her on quadbikes.

Once she was spotted it was clear a road ambulance could not reach her, so the Yorkshire Air Ambulance was scrambled to her location and she was flown to the James Cook Memorial Hospital in Middlesbrough.

“I was just sitting there when I saw the helicopter and when it landed I got quite a surprise,” said Mrs Sanderson.

“I presumed it was for someone else. I certainly did not think it had come for me.”

She added: “The paramedics and crew were absolutely marvellous. They gave me some morphine and kept talking to me the whole time.”

Paramedic Sam Burgess who treated Mrs Sanderson said: “She is a remarkable lady, to have pulled herself that far when she was in such pain.”

The rescue will be featured in the latest edition of TV’s Helicopter Heroes to be broadcast on BBC1 at 9.15am tomorrow, Tuesday April 22.