A young jockey from Ledbury who suffered life-threatening injuries after a being crushed under a horse while on a race has made a miraculous recovery and is back home.

Lizzie Merrick, aged 17, of Jugs Green, was in intensive care for almost three weeks after a horrific accident at the Garnons point-to-point racecourse near Hereford on Sunday, March 5.

She suffered crushed lungs, four broken ribs, a dislocated collarbone and a broken thighbone when her mount lost its balance going down a slope and she fell underneath two other horses.

She was under constant watch 24 hours a day at Hereford County Hospital and had been unconscious until last Thursday when she was brought round and moved to the main ward.

Doctors decided her condition had improved so much she would be able to leave the hospital on Saturday to recover at home.

"It's been a miraculous recovery," said stepfather Howard Pugh, aged 54.

"When I went to see her on Thursday she said hello to me before I could say anything.

"Doctors told us her body was mending well. The whole family is just so relieved.

"Her ribs are mending, her lungs are getting better, her bones are healing and everything is going fine. We think she is going to make a full recovery.

"She is back home now. She's distressed by what happened, but resting.

He added that she is on crutches at the moment and he believed her exceptional levels of fitness had saved her.

"She has improved rapidly and I think it's because she is so fit. She young, healthy, very active and doesn't smoke.

"The doctors and staff at the hospital were absolutely outstanding for us and I'd like to thank them."