Penrith Mountain Rescue Team have been applauded for their efforts saving a girl who had fallen from her horse at the weekend.

The lady who was riding her horse along Whinfell Forest in Brougham when it became startled after seeing a pheasant. The horse threw the female off, which left her in desperate need of attention.

Having initially contacted the North West Air Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Penrith MRT were then dispatched to help with the casualty. A total of 12 team members attended where they noticed that the woman was experiencing pain in her lower back and hip.

The team decided to package the casualty using a pelvic binder and vacuum mattress due to the nature of her fall and pain.

She was also given pain relief and carried to the stables by stretcher, where an ambulance was waiting. It took the Mountain Rescue Team around three hours and five minutes to help save the casualty.

A spokesperson for the Mountain Rescue Team said: “We were contacted by NWAS who gave us the contact details of the informant, who was with the casualty when the horse was startled, and the rider was thrown. The casualty was in pain, particularly in the lower back and hip and she felt sick. Given the mechanism of injury and her symptoms, the casualty as treated as if she had a spinal injury. We transferred the casualty to the ambulance, and she was taken to North Cumbria Integrated Care.

Fortunately, the casualty was only bruised.

We wish her a speedy recovery.”