Tragic Event: Professional Rider Dies in Equestrian Competition at Bicton International Horse Trials

A tragic incident occurred at the Bicton International Horse Trials as professional rider Georgie Campbell, 37, lost her life while competing at the prestigious equestrian event in Great Britain.

Georgie, a seasoned competitor who had transitioned from top-level showing to eventing, was a familiar face on the Nations Cup teams and had taken part in multiple five-star events including Badminton and Burghley.

With over 200 events under her belt, where she emerged victorious six times, Georgie had a remarkable career in the equestrian world. In 2020, she tied the knot with fellow event rider Jesse Campbell, an Olympic representative for New Zealand.

The couple combined their skills and passion to establish Team Campbell Eventing, forging a formidable partnership in both their personal and professional lives.

Initial reports from the event organisers indicated that Georgie and her horse, Global Quest, encountered a fall during the competition. Despite immediate medical attention, Georgie could not be saved, while Global Quest emerged from the incident unharmed.

Responding to the incident near Budleigh Salterton, the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust dispatched an air ambulance, double-crewed land ambulance, operations officer, and hazardous area response team to the scene.

The Bicton International Horse Trials, scheduled to conclude with a cross-country phase on Sunday, had to be prematurely abandoned following the tragic event. Authorities, including the Devon and Cornwall Police, are expected to conduct further investigations into the incident.