Veteran horse rider Guy Avis tragically died after falling from his horse during the Heythrop Hunt foxhound event in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire. Avis, who had hunted for over 60 years and served as the “Singing Secretary” of the Heythrop Hunt for 28 years, suffered a fatal spine fracture when his horse, Jasper, refused to jump a fence, causing him to fall headfirst. Despite immediate CPR efforts by a bystander and friend, Hannah Goffe, Avis was unresponsive and later died from his injuries.

The British Hound Sports Association and the Heythrop Hunt Club mourned Avis’s sudden loss, highlighting his deep devotion, humor, positivity, and extensive knowledge of hunting. He was laid to rest in December, and his death has now been officially confirmed by the Gloucestershire coroner. Avis’s legacy remains cherished by the hunting community, who remember him fondly for his love of the sport and his singing.