While bringing back twenty ponies to the field, 15 children and their two companions were injured in a stampede caused by the animals.
Three children were evacuated by the firefighters "in absolute urgency, without their vital prognosis being engaged", victims of facial injuries.
An investigation has been opened by the Rennes prosecutor's office to determine the reasons for the accident.
Fifteen children and two supervisors from a holiday camp injured in an accident at an equestrian center.
Tuesday evening, at 8:50 p.m., in the town of Saint-M'Hervé at a place called La Haute Hairie, near Vitré in Ille-et-Vilaine, a stampede of ponies left 17 injured, including 15 children.
Three of them were evacuated in absolute urgency.
20 Minutes
takes stock of this accident.
What happened ?
According to the first elements of the investigation revealed by the public prosecutor of Rennes, Philippe Astruc, “the children and two companions took around twenty ponies to the field.
On the way, one of the ponies, probably the lead one, turned around for some undetermined reason, followed by others.
In their flight, the animals jostled and knocked down the group.
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The two adults and 15 children were injured, three children were evacuated, two of them by helicopter from the Ille-et-Vilaine and Maine-et-Loire Samu "in absolute urgency, without their vital prognosis being engaged", indicate the firefighters of Ille-et-Vilaine.
“The families have been notified by the equestrian center and the gendarmerie” of the accident, announces the prosecutor.
What condition are the injured?
"The prognosis today is favorable" for the three most seriously injured children, aged 7 to 11, said Professor Louis Soulat, head of emergencies at Rennes University Hospital, during a press briefing on Wednesday morning.
Two children are hospitalized in continuous care at the Sud de Rennes hospital and another in intensive care under general anesthesia but his “vital prognosis is no longer engaged”, added Professor Soulat.
The seriously injured children were victims of "facial trauma following hoof kicks", in particular "fractures of the bones of the face", according to Professor Soulat.
The two adults suffered from "post-traumatic stress", according to the same source.
Five children hospitalized on Tuesday evening "have already been returned to their families", said the prefect of Ille-et-Vilaine Emmanuel Berthier on BFMTV.
According to the prefecture, a "medico-psychological emergency unit" has been set up.
Opening an investigation
She was entrusted by the Rennes prosecutor's office to the Vitré research brigade.
The equestrian center where the accident took place hosted a summer camp of 26 children aged 9 to 13 years.
According to its website, the Domaine de la Haute Hairie is “located in the middle of the countryside, on 20 unspoiled and hilly hectares”.
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