A woman died after she was struck by a traditional hobby horse costume during a centuries-old May Day festival in Cornwall, an inquest has heard. Nurse Laura Smallwood, 34, was airlifted to Derriford Hospital where she died a few days later.
The event in Padstow on May 1, 2019, featured 'hobby horses', that parade through the town, Cornwall Live reports. The large oval frames of an 'obby oss' are covered in black oilskin, which have a small horse's head at the front with a snapping jaw.
Laura's husband Oliver was the first to give evidence before senior coroner for Cornwall, Andrew Cox on Tuesday (April 6). He said his wife was “very caring”, “very strong” and always amazed him, adding “she was really happy and a fun kind of person”.
