South Korea's Kim Hyung-chil, riding Bundaberg Black, jumps over the gate during the cross country section of the equestrian three day eventing competition at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, yesterday. -Xinhua/AFP

South Korean rider Kim Hyung Chil died from injuries sustained during the equestrian cross-country competition at the 15th Asian Games yesterday.

Dr. Abdulwahal Al-Mussleh, head for health care and doping control of the DACOG, said that the accident occurred at approximately 10 a.m. at the Doha Racing and Equestrian Club when Kim fell from his horse on Jump No. 8 on the cross country stage of the three day eventing competition.

"The rider had to take the weight of Bundaberg Black when the horse fell trying to clear an obstacle," Al-Mussleh told a press conference.

"He was then rushed to Hamad General Hospital near the athletes village, but died shortly after arrival without recovering consciousness."

"He was declared dead at 10:50 am," added Abdulwahal.

Christopher Hodson, vice president of the International Equestrian Federation (IEF), was quick to reject speculations that wet conditions was the cause of Kim's death.

"We have opened a formal inquiry into this tragic accident. I don't want to speculate on the results of that inquiry until it is completed," said Hodson.

"To my knowledge it is the first time this has happened at the Asian Games."

He added that the incident would lead to more considerations about the future of equestrian as an Asian Games and Olympic sport, but expressed confidence that its standing would not be affected.

"It's not just activists concerned about this. It's all of us in the equestrian community," he said.

"I'm absolutely confident that equestrian and eventing will continue and we will discover that there are lessons to be learnt from this."

Qatari equestrian coach Samuel Ianker said the eighth obstacle which caused the tragedy was an easy one to jump.

"I didn't see the tragic scene, but I heard those who were reviewing the video after the accident," said Ianker. "Perhaps the horse jumped a little bit far from the fence.

"Actually the eighth fence is a very easy fence, everybody could jump it."

"And I don't think it's a problem of the course. I rode on it this morning, the course is good, very close to perfect. I believe it's just an accident, " added Ianker.

Tommy Amaya, a veteran rider with the Japanese team, said he knew the South Korean and he believed the weather condition was one of the factors to cause the tragedy.

"Kim is a good rider and we have know each other since the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998. He had a lot of experience and actually the eighth fence is not a difficult one and the event here is only a one-star competition, so it's really a shock to me," said Amaya.

"I think the course is good here, but maybe there is a little rain in this country and after the rain it's a little slippery. "

Kim was the oldest member of South Korea's equestrian team. He won silver in the team competition in Busan 2002.

"I feel very sad," said Chung Hyun Sook, chef de mission of the South Korean delegation.

"There's a chance of an accident at every event. It's important to win medals but it's more important that competitors are safe and return home safely.

"I am totally responsible for this. My heart was broken," she added.

Kim leaves behind a wife, seven-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter. His family would be arriving in Doha on Friday, Chung confirmed.

Chung also admitted that there was the possibility of withdrawing the whole South Korean team from the equestrian event as a sign of respect.

"After the press conference we will go back to the Athletes Village and discuss this matter...We will listen to the opinions of our athletes," she said.

It is the first death of an athlete linked to the Asian Games.