A KEEN horsewoman is back in the saddle only months after a potentially life-threatening fall.
Now, Marian Coutts is keen to repay the North-East Air Ambulance Service, which she believes probably saved her life.
Miss Coutts astounded doctors by her speedy recovery, getting back on her feet within three months of last October's riding accident.
She has now taken warily to horseback once more, thanks to friend Rachel Callaghan's placid mount, Jamie.
Her own horse, seven-year-old gelding Rodney, tripped during a dressage event at Swarland, in Northumberland. The horse rolled over and landed on top of Miss Coutts.
She broke her pelvis in six places and lay prone at the scene, being treated by first-aiders at the scene, while Rodney was, remarkably, unscathed.
The air ambulance was called and arrived at the remote location in about a quarter of an hour, taking only a further seven minutes to fly to Newcastle General Hospital, where Miss Coutts spent the next ten days.
She was transferred to Sunderland Royal Hospital for a lengthy period of recovery, during which she underwent two operations, losing use of her right leg.
Following intensive therapy, she took her first steps again within three months, returned to work as an accountant after five months, and is now making a return to the saddle.
She hopes to return to competitive action soon.
But her next target is to help keep the air ambulance flying.
The service receives no official funding and relies on private donations and sponsorship.
Miss Coutts said: "Without it, I probably wouldn't be here now.
"I was losing so much blood internally that I wouldn't have got to the hospital in time by normal ambulance.
"We in the horse world have particular interest in seeing the service running because of the rural locations of a lot of our events."
Miss Coutts, from Wearside, is staging a series of dressage events at Houghall College, Durham.
The events will culminate in a prize-giving cabaret night on Saturday, October 8, which will be held in a function suite at Durham's Riverside cricket ground, in Chester-le-Street.
Anyone keen to attend, or who can offer sponsorship, can contact Miss Coutts on (07815) 143649.
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