A LEADING equestrian official is today recovering in hospital after a horrific accident at the Chemin Le Roi showground. BSJA chairman Ken Carre, 57, was cutting a metal pole with an angle grinder when the blade flew off and struck him in the stomach.

‘From what I understand the blade snapped and the bit that snapped sliced straight through him,’ said his wife, Jo.

Mr Carre put the handtool down before checking to see what had happened.

‘He felt something warm so he looked down and saw all of his insides falling out. He lay on the floor of the workshop and then called 999.’

The emergency services received his call at 9.11 on Friday morning and were at the St Martin’s showground about six minutes later.

A surgeon, Mrs Carre said, was waiting at the doors of accident and emergency when he arrived at 9.45.

‘He’s been stapled and he’s lost part of his bowel but he’s recovering well,’ she said.

Mr Carre was yesterday recuperating on a general ward, where he is being kept under observation.

‘He’s fine. He’s out of intensive care and is now on Giffard Ward. He’s been up and about and wants to go home.

‘He’s bored – if he had the choice, he’d go home today.’

A BSJA spokesperson said that everyone was extremely concerned about its chairman.

‘The hospital is amazed at his initial progress,’ he said.

‘We all wish him well and a speedy recovery. He has been inundated with visitors and with cards.’

BSJA show and technical adviser Sarah Mills said that she had been shocked to hear what had happened.

‘Everyone is shaken up,’ she said. ‘He’s doing really, really well and he’s back on the ward. I’ve spoken to him and he’s in good spirits.’

A spokesman from Health and Safety said that it would not investigate the accident.

It looks into incidents at workplaces.

Mr Carre was working at the site in a voluntary capacity.