Point-to-point rider James McNeile died in a 'tragic incident'

Amateur jockey James McNeile died after suffering a "traumatic brain injury" when he was thrown from his horse and collided with a fence, an inquest heard on Monday.

The 57-year-old, brother of Cheltenham's former sponsorship director Peter McNeile, suffered the fatal injury at a point-to-point at Larkhill near Salisbury, Wiltshire, on April 1 while riding Pointview Gale in a maiden.

Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner's Court heard a statement from one of the attendants stationed at fence two of the circuit, who said a "big bunch" of horses approached the fence and jumped.

She added: "It appeared a horse went through the left wing of the fence, with the jockey exiting and hitting the fence before landing."

In a written statement, course vet Neil Brimson said: "I was approximately 100 metres behind the large group in my vehicle.

'One horse veered sharply'

"Towards the outside of the group, one horse veered sharply to the left. The horse ran and just avoided colliding with the edge of the wing. The jockey was thrown and it appeared he collided with the side panel."

An investigator on behalf of the BHA said the horse had "behaved in an unpredictable fashion", which resulted in McNeile being thrown.

There were three doctors and several ambulances at the course that day, so McNeile was given immediate medical attention before being airlifted to Southampton General Hospital.

Consultant Dr Timothy Nicholson-Roberts said a CT scan revealed an "extensive brain haemorrhage" and temporal fractures in Mr McNeile's head, as well as further fractures to his spine and ribs.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, senior coroner David Ridley said: "This appears to be a tragic incident that has sadly resulted in James's death. Many sporting activities carry a risk and sadly in this case it proved to be fatal."