A teenager who is a London 2012 Olympics hopeful is in a coma in Addenbrooke's Hospital after being thrown from a horse and breaking her neck.

Rosie Chinery, 18, from Great Yeldham, Essex, who is in the England under-21 squad, was seriously injured while training in Newmarket on Wednesday.

Her grandfather Aubrey Chinery, 73, said: “She was going up a hill very fast and the horse either had a heart attack or collapsed and catapulted her off. She hit the ground at 50 or 60mph.”

Ms Chinery's family told today how she hoped to ride alongside Zara Phillips in the 2012 Olympics after meeting the royal rider at an eventing competition.

Mr Aubrey Chinery said: “She met Zara at a class somewhere, I remember her saying that she had seen her. Rosie wanted to compete in the 2012 Olympics, that was the plan.

“She has competed all over the country and went to France last year with the British under-18s team.”

Rosie was training a point-to-point horse in Newmarket to prepare for a meet at Cottenham, near Cambridge this weekend when she was thrown from the saddle.

Mr Chinery said: “It's a horse she has ridden for the past two years and she was getting it ready for Sunday. It had a heart attack and collapsed.

“Her father was there at the time, and her parents and brother William have been at the hospital.

“The doctors said it is not a serious break in her neck but they will not know how badly affected she is until she comes round. She hasn't regained consciousness yet.”

Rosie, a former member of the East Essex Hunt Pony Club, was in training and hoped to be picked for the British Eventing Young Riders Team to represent the country in dressage, show-jumping and cross country.

Liza Randall, a spokeswoman for British Eventing, said: “Rosie is a very talented rider. Last year she was in the young riders side and came seventh at the Weston Park International event. She was a hot contender for this year's young riders team.

“It takes a lot of dedication, commitment and effort over the years to be good enough for the Olympics. There was certainly a possibility she could have gone to the senior team and the Olympics, that's what all the young riders are aiming for, the medals.

“We are very shocked to hear what has happened, it's absolutely terrible, we wish her a very speedy recovery.”

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