A nurse died after being hit on the back of the neck by a wooden horse costume at a May Day Festival in Cornwall. Laura Smallwood, 34, died in hospital three days after suffering a brain injury at Padstow's May Day Obby Oss event on May 1, 2019.
The paediatric nurse's death was accidental, a three-day inquest found, Cornwall Live reports. But the incident shows the need for the event to move with the times to keep people safe, the inquest has ruled.
Senior coroner for Cornwall, Andrew Cox, said it was "likely" the impact caused the fatal injury. He also said that a mystery injury she suffered several days earlier would have left her more vulnerable to further trauma.
