A HORSE rider was airlifted to hospital by a police helicopter after falling from her horse on Redcar beach.

The 48-year-old victim from Yarm, Stockton, was found unconscious about half a mile along the sands towards South Gare this morning (Sunday, May 25).

Her horse was spotted on the loose by a member of the public at about 10am.

Emergency services including police, ambulance and the police helicopter were called following fears that the rider had been thrown from the horse.

Suffering from bruising, the rider was airlifted to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital by the police helicopter.

Inspector Ashley Harvey of Cleveland Police said: “Due to the location of the woman and the tide coming in the decision was made to transport the woman to hospital using the police helicopter instead of waiting for the air ambulance. A paramedic from the ambulance service also came in the helicopter with the woman.”