THE wife of a man hospitalised after being hit by a runaway horse at yesterday’s County Show, has praised the kindness of members of the public who helped them.

Regular Pembrokeshire visitors, Oxfordshire couple Jane and John Armitage of Bicester travelled to the show yesterday from Clynderwen, where they have a caravan.

Sadly their visit to the show, with their three Labradors, came to an shocking end when they were hit by the runaway horse.

Jane was, luckily, only knocked down, but John, 74, suffered a broken ankle, and has been undergoing surgery to pin it.

Mr Armitage was one of eight injured in the incident at the Withybush showground on August 15, and one of five taken to hospital.

Posting on Pembrokeshire Facebook page, Dog Friendly Pembrokeshire, on August 15, Jane wrote: “My husband was one of those injured today at Pembroke Show. He was knocked down by the horse and is now in hospital; I was also knocked down, but I got up!”

Jane praised the support of people stepping up to help her at the show: “The reason for this post is to thank those people who I will probably never meet again. The local store owner who came straight out to ask if I was okay when my husband was on the ground; the paramedics who did such a wonderful job and looked after him so well; but most importantly in this post, at least, is those dog lovers at the show.

“When I fell, I was holding three Labradors. Ellie the senior Labrador stayed close to me, but the two younger ones, black and yellow Labradors, ran. I don’t know the name of the lady who caught Lottie, a black Labrador, near the cattle rings, also the lovely lady judge who picked up Dolly, a yellow Labrador, and carried her to me, she was too scared to walk.

“I don’t know your names, but I just wanted to say a huge thank you. Your kindness will never be forgotten.

“I also want to thank the couple who came to the paramedics’ area and offered to hold the dogs for me so I could go in and be with my husband.

“They waited with our three stressed dogs, calmed them and I can’t thank you enough for your kindness at such a difficult time.”

Jane, who praised the “excellent” hospital staff at Withybush, is still determined to visit the County Show in 2019.

“We look forward to coming to the show again next year. Thank you all again.”

To date, some 80 well-wishers have sent kind messages to the Armitages.

The Western Telegraph would like to wish John, and the others injured in the incident, a speedy recovery.