Mystery over drone which '˜spooked' tragic West Yorkshire Police horse

Detectives say they have been unable to identify the owner of a drone that 'more than likely' spooked an experienced West Yorkshire Police horse shortly before it died.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Sep 2016, 14:05 BST
Updated 15th Sep 2016, 16:26 BST
Fimber, the West Yorkshire Police horse who died last year.Fimber, the West Yorkshire Police horse who died last year.
Fimber, the West Yorkshire Police horse who died last year.

Fimber, 14, was killed after an incident at Carr Gate police headquarters near Wakefield on 15 October last year.

CCTV footage showed the horse, who had been with the force for 11 years, looking “spooked” in the paddock before vaulting a fence and colliding with a wooden post.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In the days after the incident, police appealed to the owner of a radio-controlled drone found nearby to come forward.

Most Popular
Fimber, the West Yorkshire Police horse who died last yearFimber, the West Yorkshire Police horse who died last year
Fimber, the West Yorkshire Police horse who died last year

The drone was a widely-available model, the Walkera Runner 250. Measuring about nine inches (27cm) long, they cost about £200.

Police said at the time that Fimber, who was used to the a helicopter taking off and landing nearby, reacted to the drone landing nearby or close to him, causing him to be spooked.

In a statement issued this week, Detective Superintendant Simon Atkinson of West Yorkshire Police said: “Detectives did conduct a full investigation into the death of Fimber but despite a number of enquiries, were unable to identify the owner of the drone.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: “Officers concluded it was more than likely that the presence of the drone spooked Fimber, who was an experienced police horse.”

Fimber, the West Yorkshire Police horse who died last yearFimber, the West Yorkshire Police horse who died last year
Fimber, the West Yorkshire Police horse who died last year

“Following enquires and a media appeal regarding this incident, it was determined there were no further lines of investigation, resulting in the matter being finalised. If any further information comes to light it will be reviewed.”

Mr Atkinson said in the days after Fimber’s death: “I appreciate that radio-controlled drones are becoming increasingly popular and I am not wanting to detract from the pleasure people get from flying them,” he added.