British horse riding star, 31, who suffered life-changing spine injury in horror fall leaves behind heartbreaking letter after assisted suicide

A British horse riding star left behind a heartbreaking letter as she died of assisted suicide after suffering a devastating spine injury in a horror fall.

Caroline March, 31, revealed why she wanted to end her life in a poignant message she shared on her public Facebook page in which she said: 'No one can truly understand what I have to go through.' 

She had been knocked unconscious in a serious fall during a cross-country event at Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market in Norfolk on April 16, 2022.

As she attempted to recover she underwent extensive physiotherapy and flew to the US for experimental treatment, but remained hampered by her major injury she had been battling for almost two years.

Ms March, from Colchester, revealed her despair at being unable to do 'anything and everything' she once loved - having previously thrived on 'adrenaline hits' and 'spontaneity'.

Professional rider Caroline March, 31, suffered a horror fall in April 2022

The death of Caroline from assisted suicide has been announced on Saturday 

She also posted a heartbreaking letter on her Facebook explaining her decision

She described herself as 'strong-minded and 'independent', a person who 'hates asking for help, while saying she wanted her letter to 'silence the voices' of people who might challenge her decision.

Ms March, whose death was announced on Saturday, started her letter by saying: 'Where to even start writing this.

'Ideally I'd like to say nothing at all, because at the end of the day the people who I care about know but of course everyone will have an opinion which they'll feel a need to say.'

She continued: 'I've never understood society's obsession with longevity and the need to live for as long as possible.

'Alan Watts, a well-known philosopher famously said, ''I'd rather have a short life that is full of what I love doing, than a long life spent in a miserable way''.

'Assisted suicide is always something that I believed in and have always said that if anything happened to me and I was forced into the predicament that I couldn't have the quality of life that I wanted, that would be the route I'd take.

'Not going to lie, never imagined it would come to fruition but here we are.'

Ms March is seen with a horse after her accident during a cross-country event at Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market in Norfolk

The death of Ms March, who loved horses, was announced on Saturday last week 

Ms March revealed her despair at being unable to do 'anything and everything' she once loved 

She added: 'I could keep going but it's a decision I've made which is the best route for me.

'No one can truly understand what I have to go through. My utmost respect for anyone who hasn't only made a life after injury, but those that have flourished. '

Ms March also detailed her longing for a family of her own, writing: 'All I ever wanted was a family and I'd have given up everything in an instant for one. Two/three little sprogs running round the family farm having inherited my feral ways.

'I really wanted to be a young mum and I'd have been a f****** good one.'  

She had been a professional rider up to four-star level, but her injury forced her to give up eventing despite receiving 'successful' spinal surgery on a fractured vertebrae.

She wrote: 'There is a lot of new treatments for SCI and the developments are exciting. For anyone else's sake, I hope it continues so my projected future isn't the same for everyone.

'A broken back can soon be treated the same as a broken arm. It's not an existence I want. The bowel and bladder regime, sexual function, the entire impossibility to do anything and everything that I love.

'I have felt so much love from so many people the last few years. I just wish love could fix it or even make it bearable but it can't.

Ms March revealed her despair at being unable to do 'anything and everything' she once loved

Ms March is seen before her accident at Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market in Norfolk on April 16, 2022

Ms March had been a professional rider up to four-star level, but her injury forced her to give up eventing despite receiving 'successful' spinal surgery on a fractured vertebrae

'A characteristic that used to be my strength is now my downfall. I'm so stubborn and determined, I have to be good at everything I do and if not I slam doors.

'I am an incredible person, something I genuinely truly believe now but it doesn't change anything. Life is cruel, really cruel. I was amazing, a completely independent stubborn c**t, but I was a f***ing good one.'

Her death was announced online by Eventing News, who wrote: 'It's with heavy hearts that we share the news of Caroline March's passing yesterday, March 23rd, just over a month after her 31st birthday.

'Caroline was well-known and loved throughout the British eventing community for her big personality and fiery streak, and a zest for the things that she loved that saw her accomplish much in her three decades.

'She was a professional event rider, competing through four-star, and after a career-ending injury at Burnham Market in 2022, she fought to find new ways to chase joy and purpose.

'But no matter how many talents a person has, they are much more than what they do, and Caroline's passing - a dignified end to her life that she was able to choose for herself - will be mourned by a wide array people who were fortunate to count themselves among her friends and family.

'Here's to you, Caroline - you stayed wholly true to yourself until the end. We'll always raise a glass to that.

'All of us at Team EN send our most heartfelt condolences to Caroline's family and friends.'

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit www.thecalmzone.net/get-support.