Horse fall man, 48, dies

A man has died following a horse riding accident in Shropshire. Mike Slater, from Aston, near Market Drayton, was airlifted to hospital after he came off his horse during a hunt on Saturday.

The 48-year-old later died from further complications. He had been on a legal trail with the North Staffordshire Hunt, of which he was a member.

His wife Debbie said the family was struggling to come to terms with the loss. "Mike was a wonderful human being, who touched the lives of so many people," she said.

"Mike's death is absolutely heartbreaking, but he would have wanted us to stay as positive as possible, to celebrate his life rather than mourn the loss.

"He always had a positive approach to life."

Mr Slater suffered a serious riding accident in 2003 while on a hunt, but made a full recovery, despite doctors warning he might die from severe internal injuries.

He ran Aston Manor Liveries with his wife. They held a fun day at the stables last year in aid of the County Air Ambulance, to thank the organisation for rescuing Mike after the accident.

Mr Slater came off his horse on Saturday at about 11.30am, while jumping a fence in Norton in Hales.

He was taken to North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary in Stoke-on-Trent after suffering serious neck and spinal injuries, but died on Wednesday.

Jane Shepherd, a family friend, said plans were being made for Mr Slater's own horses to be present at the funeral.

As well as wife Debbie, Mr Slater leaves a son, Richard, from his first marriage, his mother Beryl, brother Denis and sister Jane.