A horse rider has died in hospital after being injured in a road accident while out riding their horse in Ockley, Surrey.

Get Surrey reports that 54-year-old Graeme Johnston from Godalming fell from his horse just yards from the stables where he kept the animal.

The accident occurred on Saturday, 27 March at around 9.30am and police have said that Mr Johnston’s mount was ‘spooked’ by a passing motorcycle that had driven round the corner where horse and rider were. The motorcyclist had reportedly cut the sound of his engine, but the horse was still frightened by the sudden appearance of the bike in the lane.

Ambulance crews airlifted Mr Johnston to King’s College Hospital in London after the accident, but he died on Friday, 2 April.

Another rider accompanying Mr Johnston was unhurt, as was the motorcyclist. Local residents said that there had recently been a series of incidents in the area involving horses and motorbikes, as the lane leads to a byway.

The unnamed rider accompanying Mr Johnston on the morning of the accident told reporters:

‘The motorcyclist came round the corner, but as soon as he saw us, he cut his engine. It seemed like ages before the emergency services got here.

‘It’s a bit silly mixing horses with bikes, something needs to be done.’

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