James Scott-Lee, the chairman of independent estate agency chain Chancellors, was trampled by his horses, and died from a stroke a day later.

An inquest into his death heard that Scott-Lee, a leading figure at the RICS’s residential faculty, had been out on a seven-mile carriage driving exercise.

He was accompanied by horseman Kevin Merry and Merry’s wife Beverly last October 27.

On returning to the stables where Scott-Lee kept five horses, one of the animals became startled.

Scott-Lee was kicked to the ground and trampled by the horses before all four wheels of the carriage ran over him, the inquest heard.

Paramedics were called and Scott-Lee was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Scans showed he had multiple fractured ribs but doctors did not think his condition life-threatening, and decided to keep him in hospital for 24 hours for observation.

Later that day, his condition had deteriorated and he was moved to intensive care. Further scans showed he had broken vertebrae.

A subsequent examination found he had suffered a stroke.

Scott-Lee was rushed to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, where doctors told his wife Jill and son Robert that he had extensive brain damage.

He died the next day.

Oxford coroner Darren Salter recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

The Chancellors Group, which has over 50 offices, is headed by Scott-Lee’s son Robert as managing director.