Veteran Rider’s Cause of Death Revealed 9 Months After Fatal Horse Accident: ‘We Will Never Forget Him’

A cause of death has been confirmed for a longtime rider who died after falling from his horse during a hunting event in England last fall.

Guy Avis, of Dean in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, was taking part in the Heythrop Hunt foxhound gathering with nearly 100 other riders near Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, at the time of the incident, according to 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.

In a statement issued the day after his passing, the British Hound Sports Association shared, “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 also extended its condolences to Avis’ family and friends.

Avis was riding his horse, Jasper, when the animal refused to jump a fence, causing him to fall forward over the horse’s head. He landed headfirst and suffered a fractured spine, per The Telegraph. His death was ruled an accident.

Hannah Goffe, who had known Avis for 30 years and was present at the event, described the aftermath in a statement read to the court. “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 number in England].”

Beth Pritchard, a health and safety officer, told investigators that Avis was properly trained and well-prepared. “He was an experienced horse rider and was riding his own horse, Jasper, using his own tack,” she said, according to The Telegraph.

His funeral took place on Dec. 10, 2024, as noted in a post from the Heythrop Hunt Club’s Instagram account. The club later paid tribute, calling him “one of the cornerstones of the Heythrop Hunt.”

“There is hardly anyone who can remember going hunting here without him,” the message read. The tribute featured five photos of Avis on horseback and celebrated his dedication: “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 💔💫.”