A POPULAR jockey who narrowly escaped death in a freak accident in which her horse collapsed and died has spoken for the first time about her dramatic fall and her road to recovery.

Rosie Chinery, 18, became the focus of the British equestrian world’s attention after the accident in March. The promising point-to-point rider, described as “very gifted” by racing pundits, still dreams of becoming a top event rider.

But her future hung in the balance after she broke her neck in the accident, on Newmarket racecourse and later suffered a stroke.

The teenager, who lives in Toppesfield with parents Karen and Paul and 16-year-old brother, William, was rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.

An investigation later showed the horse had rolled over Rosie, as it collapsed and died of an aneurism.

Rosie still has no recollection of the accident, but recalls asking if she could ride again, almost as soon as she regained the power of speech – even though, her injuries meant she couldn’t raise her hand above her shoulder at the time She said: “The doctors asked me what my immediate aim was and I said it was to be riding and driving. They said ‘What about brushing your hair with your right hand first?’”

Her parents described their time at her beside as a “living hell”.

Mrs Chinery said: “You hear people use the words, living hell, but it was. It was too awful to talk about, really. It didn’t seem to be real. The first day Paul asked if she might die and they said, ‘Yes, at any minute’.”

However, Rosie not only pulled through, she has learned to walk again and recovered from her broken neck and the side-effects of her stroke.

It was Rosie’s nature – her mum calls it “bloody-mindedness” – which sped her recovery. She now rides and jumps again at her grandfather’s fields in Great Yeldham and though she is still hesitant, she says she grows more confident every day.

Rosie said: “Lots of people say I am a bit mad, but I think I just see life and get on with it. I don’t worry about things. I enjoy racing. I love it, but I don’t think I could ever be a top-class racer, just because I haven’t got the horses and don’t know enough people. But I would like to be a top event rider.”

Her mum says the family is really grateful to all those who cooked them meals while Rosie was in hospital, offered them lifts and looked after their horses. Rosie’s boyfriend, a windsurfer known as “Baster”, was also a huge help, Mrs Chinery said.

Rosie has been given money by injured jockeys’ charities to buy new jodhpurs and a hat – as well as a Nintendo Wii games machine to help her balance.

She is expected to take a further two years to fully recover, but is working hard to get back into competitive riding. Her next goal is a jumping competition at Elms Farm, Finchingfield on Saturday, when her aim is simple – to get round safely.