Swiss tourist dies after falling from horse cart on island that bans cars

A Swiss tourist who died after being thrown from a horse-drawn carriage was forced to travel in a make-shift ambulance that was pulled by a tractor. The reason behind this is because the Channel Island, Sark, where the incident happened, bans cars. 

Dora Jufer, 68, was seriously injured in the accident and then had to endure a near two-hour journey by land and sea to the nearest hospital which was in Guernsey. She later died in hospital. 

The incident happened at around 12.15pm yesterday (26/06/2012) and seven other tourists and the driver of the carriage were also treated for injuries they received. The nine casualties in total were treated by the only doctor on the island before they were taken to the port in the antiquated ambulance. 

Once on the boat, Ms Jufer was treated on board by paramedics throughout the 25 minute journey and she arrived at the princess Elizabeth Hospital just before 2pm. She later died at the hospital after sustaining serious head injuries. A second male tourist is also being treated for serious head injuries. 

The group were touring the island in a horse drawn carriage which then appeared to hit a hedge and rolled over. Inspector Trevor Coleman, from Guernsey Police, told the Daily Mail emergency responders worked quickly in difficult conditions to treat the patients on the island before they were transported.

This morning he confirmed that the woman who died was Dora Jufer, aged 67, from Melchnau in Switzerland.

He added: “At about 12.15pm on Tuesday, June 26, an incident occurred at the Dos D’Ane, Sark involving a horse drawn van. The van was carrying a party of Swiss tourists.

“The van mounted a hedge and rolled onto its side. One woman sustained injuries that have subsequently proved fatal.”

Sark is a small island in the southwestern English Channel off the French coast of Normandy. It has an area of 2.10 square miles and a population of around 600 people. 

Picture: Heather Cowper