Chairman of major agency was trampled to death by his own horses

The chairman of Chancellors was trampled to death by his own horses after taking them out for a carriage driving exercise, an inquest has heard. 

The Oxford Mail reports that James Scott-Lee had been on a seven mile ride with two of his horses and his horseman and the horseman's wife on October 27 last year.

However, when Scott-Lee returned to his estate near Oxford the horses were startled and kicked him to the ground before trampling on him. 

The Chancellors Group, which is based in Berkshire, has some 50 branches and is led by Scott-Lee’s son Robert; the group also includes the Anscombe & Ringland, and Russell Baldwin & Bright brands.

The coroner heard that scans only revealed he had multiple fractured ribs and despite doctors deeming his condition not to be life-threatening, they said he should be kept in hospital for 24 hours for observation.

However, by the afternoon his condition had deteriorated rapidly and he was transferred to intensive care where further scans showed he had a broken vertebrae.

He was assessed again later by doctors who found his right pupil was unresponsive and that he had suffered a stroke.

He was taken to a London hospital but had suffered extensive brain damage and died the following day, on October 28.

The coroner recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

In addition to serving in later years as chairman of the Chancellors Group, James Scott-Le because a leading member of the residential faculty of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and helped establish The Property Ombudsman scheme.

You can see a full report on the inquest here.