THE boyfriend of tragic teenager Ella Pallister has told how the loss of his ‘gorgeous girlfriend’ has broken his heart.

Sam Edwards paid tribute to the 17-year-old sixth former after she died from injuries suffered in a horseriding accident in a show jumping event at Kingston Maurward College.

Sam, 20, from the Dorchester area, said: “'My gorgeous girlfriend has been robbed from me at such a young age. “Words cannot describe how I am feeling at this present time.

“She was lost so quickly and in such a tragic way, that this is going to take a very long time for it to sink in. “It has left me w2316189ith a massive hole in my heart. “She was such a beautiful bright and energetic person who will never be able to be replaced. “However. in spite all of this, she died doing the thing she loved so very much.”

Talented horsewoman Ella, who lived in Portesham, was taking part in a British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) contest when the accident happened on Sunday lunchtime. She was flown from the Dorset County Hospital to Southampton hospital by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance but died of her injuries on Wednesday, January 30.

Ella’s family have already paid tribute to her through her parents Ted and Karen Pallister.

They described talented Ella as their ‘shining star’ and hailed her love of riding and winning competition. Ella was studying PE and business A levels at the Thomas Hardye school in Dorchester as well as a BTEC in animal science at Kingston Maurward College.

Ella, whose horse was Cocoon II, was a member of the Thomas Hardye School equestrian team.

At the end of last year she was in the school team that secured sixth place in the National School Equestrian Association’s annual show jumping finals at Addington Manor, near Milton Keynes.

Her friends and staff at Thomas Hardye have paid tribute as they try to come to terms with their loss.

They have lit candles, and a vicar and counsellor have been on hand to offer support.

A statement from the a British Show Jumping Association, which is also on the Kingston Maurward College website, said: “It is with the deepest regret that British Showjumping confirm that Ella Pallister, aged 17, died on Wednesday, January 30 as a result of an injury sustained while competing at a British Showjumping affiliated show at Kingston Maurward in Dorset on Sunday ,January 27. “Ella fell from her horse in the warm-up arena and was transferred to Dorchester hospital prior to being taken by air ambulance to Southampton hospital.

“Both British Showjumping and Kingston Maurward extend their condolences to the family during this difficult time.”