Georgina Lightning, known for her role in the British television series "Auf Wiedersehen, Pet," died Tuesday at the age of 63. The actress and filmmaker was killed after being struck by a horse during an equestrian event at the Enoch Rodeo Grounds in Canada.
Paramedics attended to Lightning at the scene, and she was pronounced dead, according to police. The incident occurred while she was filming a documentary about the three-day Indian Relay event. Alberta RCMP confirmed that police responded to the location at approximately 6:40 p.m. on Saturday after she was hit by a horse that veered off course.
Lightning was in a designated media area when the animal collided with her. She portrayed Lainie Proudfoot, a Native American girlfriend and later wife of one of the main characters, in four episodes of "Auf Wiedersehen, Pet."
Beyond her acting work, Lightning was also a writer, director, and producer. Her 2008 film "Older Than America" drew on her own school experiences and was dedicated to her father, George De Jong, who died by suicide following his time in the Canadian residential school system. Her other acting credits include "DreamKeeper," "Blackstone," "Trickster," "Three Pines," "Alaska Daily," and "Johnny Greeneyes."
Lightning is survived by her three children, Crystle, Cody, and William, all of whom are involved in the acting industry. Her daughter Crystle posted on Facebook, describing her mother as her "matriarch, my role model, my confidant."
Co-star Tim Healy paid tribute to Lightning on X, writing, "RIP Georgina lovely lady and a joy to work with."