Nairn teacher breaks neck in fatal fall from horse

A YOUNG woman watched in horror as her mother was thrown from a horse and broke her neck in an accident near her home.

Caroline Johnston, 46, a depute head teacher, died from her injuries after the tragedy on a country road.

Her daughter Kim, 21, who is hoping to become a veterinary nurse, witnessed the accident as they were out riding together.

She and her brother Drew, 23, last night paid tribute to their animal-loving mother.

The dead woman's son, a personal sports trainer, said: "She was a well respected teacher and gave 110 per cent at school and at home.

"She was dedicated to her work and took particular pleasure in co-ordinating and attending the school's Loch Insh trip.

"She even set up and co-ran an extra-curricular walking club for children at Rosebank, among many other things.

"She influenced and touched a great many lives over the years, and though she will be sorely missed she leaves us with an abundance of extremely fond memories. That is her legacy."

He said the family were too upset to speak about the details of the accident, saying: "All we would like to say about the circumstances are that she died in a tragic riding accident on Monday morning."

He added: "She loved walking her dogs and had a passion for decorating her welcoming home.

"She was a loving mother and a true friend. We, her family, are shocked and upset.

"At this point it's hard to conceive the full impact of her loss and it's really difficult to think about all of the things she won't be there for now."

Miss Johnston, who is hoping to start a veterinary nursing course at Napier University in Edinburgh next month, went out riding with her mother on Monday near their home at Regoul, near Cawdor Castle in Nairnshire.

They were on a single track road at Gollanfield, near Inverness Airport, when the accident happened.

It is not known exactly why Mrs Johnston, depute head of Rosebank Primary School in Nairn, was thrown from the horse at the crossroads, just east of Loch Flemington, but it is understood the horse was travelling at speed.

The emergency services were called at 11:08am and an ambulance crew and helicopter attended.

Mrs Johnston, who was originally from Glasgow but lived 25 years in rural Nairnshire, was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, about ten miles away, where she was pronounced dead.

Local councillor Glynis Sinclair, also a keen horsewoman, said she was shocked to learn of the tragedy.

She said: "I am absolutely devastated for her family. We know Caroline was a competent rider, but these accidents happen in the horse world. You just never think they will happen to you."

Mrs Johnston had been at the 438-pupil Rosebank Primary for six years and her death also stunned her colleagues and bosses.

Hugh Fraser, Highland Council's education director, last night paid tribute to a "first-class teacher".

He said: "We are all shocked by this tragic accident. Our sincere condolences go to her family and all those who knew and worked with Caroline."