A teenage rider was airlifted to hospital after her horse reared up and fell on top of her on a quiet Suffolk lane at the weekend.

The 18-year-old was flown to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital by air ambulance after the accident at Mendlesham Green on Saturday morning.

She suffered a fracture in the pelvis area, but it is understood that her injuries were found to be not as serious as first feared once she had been given a full scan at hospital. It is hoped she will make a full recovery.

One of the first on the scene was Dr Andrew Mason, a volunteer member of the Suffolk Accident Rescue Service who was called to help paramedics at the scene.

He said: “The girl had been riding her horse near High House Farm in Mendlesham Green, I think the horse was based at a stables in the area.

“I understand that as she was riding along the road the horse became ‘spooked’ by three other horses, bolted, and reared up. She fell off and the horse fell on top of her. It’s pretty bad when half a ton of horse comes down on top of you!”

Dr Mason arrived at the scene about 40 minutes after the initial call about the accident after driving from Norton.

“I was concerned about the nature of her pelvic injuries and I felt it was necessary to get her to hospital as soon as possible to get a scan.”

He understood that when the rider was scanned, it showed that her injuries were not as bad as had been initially feared.

“She has suffered a fracture, but it is not as bad as it could have been. That is why it was so important to get to the scanner as early as possible.”

Dr Mason said the horse had gone by the time he arrived at the scene, but he understood it had suffered a few minor grazes in the fall but did not require any veterinary treatment.

The Suffolk Accident Rescue Service (SARS) is a charity that staffed by volunteer doctors and specialist paramedics who can be called out by emergency services – SARS relies on fund-raising to pay for its services.