THE mother of a young horseriding champion left seriously injured after being kicked by a pony has praised those who saved his life.

Dean Brown, 11, suffered head injuries after tripping over in a paddock and being kicked.

The Junior British Endurance Champion was airlifted to the Dorset County Hospital and later taken to Southampton Hospital's neurological unit.

Now his mother Lisa says she owes everything to Portland's emergency care practitioner Maria Beet and the coastguards who rescued Dean at Windmill Riding School in Portland.

Mrs Brown said: "They were all absolutely amazing. They were quick and efficient and Maria was so calming.

"I can't thank them all enough for what they did.

"It makes you realise what the emergency services go through every day and how they have to deal with things."

She added: "The doctors at Dorchester County Hospital were amazing. There was a team there waiting for Dean when he landed."

The accident happened on the afternoon of December 20.

Although Dean was back home in Portland for Christmas, Mrs Brown said the festive period had been ruined.

"Christmas was horrible. I want it again in a couple of weeks' time," she said.

"Dean still gets tired a lot and forgets things. He can't even remember the accident."

Doctors have told Dean he cannot train or return to Underhill Junior School for six to eight weeks.

But he said the accident had not put him off horses. He hopes to recover in time for the Wessex endurance season in March.

"I feel fine about getting on a horse again - I have been doing it for years now," Dean said. "But it will be so boring not riding in the meantime."

Group ambulance station manager Mick Barnes said: "Emergency care practitioners respond to 999 calls as well as being based at minor treatment units.

"The scheme was devised a few years ago and it has been so successful because the people responding live in those areas.

"This incident is an example of how local knowledge can cut response times by minutes."

Dean has ridden to victory in races of up to 80km all over the country.

His older sister Laura also trains in endurance riding and the pair have won numerous trophies on horses Razzina and Solo.

Mrs Brown praised Dean's trainer Sue Lees for her support to the family since the accident.