THROUGHOUT last week’s Dublin Horse Show, people enquired after show pony rider Ellie McDonnell who, on July 23rd, was involved in a very serious quad bike accident on the family farm in Co Down.

She was airlifted from Portaferry to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where, rushed to theatre, she underwent life-saving operations. Ellie’s mother Mary reported that her daughter had sustained numerous injuries to her head and body including a fractured skull and many fractures to face, head, leg and arm.

“Ellie’s life hung by a thread but due to her strength and fight she survived,” said Mary. “She was two weeks in a coma but woke up a week ago and immediately began to breathe on her own. To everyone’s amazement and relief, she knew all her family and friends around her and when asked how she felt, she replied: ‘I am feeling rather average’, so we all knew Ellie was back.

“From then, Ellie improved daily and, with the aid of crutches, is up and about again.

“We are hoping to get her out of hospital over the next week or two. She has been giving out about missing Dublin Horse Show and not getting to compete at BSPS next week and has been giving orders about ponies at home. So the old Ellie is back – only more determined.

“Ellie has a lot of people praying for her and sending get well wishes from all over and we thank each and everyone for this. She has one more operation to put her skull piece back in on September 2nd, when the brain swelling has completely gone down, so after that we hope she will be returning to school. For once, she is mad keen for this.”