NEED TO KNOW
- A Gloucestershire coroner has revealed the cause of death for an Oxfordshire veteran horse rider
- Guy Avis died at the age of 76 while participating in a hunting activity in November 2024
- “There is hardly anyone who can remember going hunting here without him,” a tribute read
A cause of death has been revealed for a veteran rider who died after falling from his horse during a hunting activity in England last fall.
Guy Avis of Dean in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, was participating in the Heythrop Hunt foxhound event with nearly 100 other riders near Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, at the time of the incident, per BBC.
“It is clear from the evidence that on Nov 2 2024, at the farm in question, Mr Avis died as a result of injuries sustained when he fell from his horse,” Roland Wooderson, area coroner for Gloucestershire, said Thursday, Aug. 21, The Telegraph reported. Avis was 76 years old.
In a statement the day after his death, the British Hound Sports Association said, “We are saddened to hear of the sudden loss while hunting yesterday of Guy Avis, known as ‘the Singing Secretary’ of the Heythrop. A post he held for 28 years. He had hunted for over 60 years.”
The organization offered its condolences to Avis’ family and friends.
Avis was riding his horse named Jasper when the animal refused to jump over a fence, causing the 76-year-old to fall forward over the horse’s head. Avis fell head first and suffered a fractured spine, per The Telegraph.
His death was ruled an accident.
Hannah Goffe was present at the event and said in a statement read to the court that she and Avis had known each other for three decades.
“I ran towards the jump and I saw Guy lying on the floor,” she said. “Guy was unresponsive and I started CPR. I was aware that someone was on the phone to 999 [the emergency phone number in England].”
Beth Pritchard, a health and safety officer, told investigators that Avis had sufficient training in the sport, according to The Telegraph.
“He was an experienced horse rider and was riding his own horse, Jasper, using his own tack,” she said.
His funeral was held on Dec. 10, 2024, according to a post shared to the Heythrop Hunt Club’s Instagram account.
After his death, the club shared a special tribute to Avis on Instagram, calling him “one of the cornerstones of the Heythrop Hunt.”
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“There is hardly anyone who can remember going hunting here without him,” the caption continued.
The carousel contained five photos of Avis. He appeared horseback in each one.
“He was completely devoted to the Heythrop, and looked forward to every single one of the very many days’ hunting he had. We will miss his humour, his positivity, his love of the hounds and of the country, his incredible knowledge – and his singing. We will never forget him. Happy hunting up there Uncle Guy/Mambo 💔💫,” the post said.
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