A RIDER who suffered a stroke after falling off her horse and hitting her head will feature on a programme highlighting the work of the work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA).

Emily Thurgood, from Ebberston, was riding in a field when her horse slipped. She came off, landing on the back of her head, the impact resulting in a blood clot which subsequently caused a stroke.

When the YAA crew arrived, the 40-year-old experienced rider was deeply unconscious, with her jaw clenched shut, making it very difficult to get air into her lungs.

A second air ambulance carrying a doctor was dispatched so that Emily could be anaesthetised before being airlifted to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.

She said: “Although I had a very good riding helmet, I landed on the back of my head which shunted my brain forward. This is where the speech and memory is and where most of the damage was caused by the stroke. It was a really freak accident but without YAA I would not be here now. It’s as simple as that and I am so grateful to them.”

Emily was kept in an induced coma for a week and spent nearly 10 weeks in hospital, going through intense neuro rehabilitation and physiotherapy.

“I had to learn to do everything again - from walking and talking to cooking. I still can’t run and, what is really frustrating, I’ve not been able to ride, but I am getting better each month.”

Emily, who is a marketing effectiveness manager for HSBC, will start a phased return to work in January and is also planning her wedding after getting engaged to partner Richard earlier this year. Emily is also going to fund raise for the YAA charity.

“I have been told I will get completely back to where I was before the accident but it could take up to five years. Considering what happened, though, I think I have been pretty lucky and I can’t thank Yorkshire Air Ambulance enough.” Emily’s rescue can be seen on Helicopter ER, Monday at 9pm on Really, or catch-up on UKTV Play.