Top South Korean equestrian Kim Hyung-chil died yesterday when his horse fell on him during the individual cross country event at a temporary venue near the showpiece Sports City.
The 47-year-old Kim was unseated when gelding Bundaberg Black hit a fence at one of the water obstacles and took a tumble. The full weight of the horse fell on Kim's head, neck and chest. The horse survived without any noticeable injury.
Despite immediate medical assistance, Kim was declared dead a half-hour later at the Hamad Hospital.
'I'm in shock. My immediate thoughts are with his family,' said Kim Young-hwan, chef de mission of the Korean team. She indicated that the Korean equestrian team - who won gold medals in dressage the day before - could pull out of the competition.
Kim, who has two children , a son aged seven and a daughter, 13, won a silver medal on the same horse at the Asian Games in Pusan, and also took part in the last two Olympic Games. This is the first time a rider has died at the Asian Games.
Shocked officials promised to carry out a full investigation and cause for the tragedy - but ruled out the possibility that heavy rain which affected Doha yesterday, had anything to do with the accident.