In May, 2015, I was attacked by cattle – an incident that would change my life for ever.
I was walking with my Labrador dog along a public footpath in Llanbedr, Gwynedd. This field in the centre of the village was used daily by school children, villagers and dog walkers alike as a ‘cut through’. The farmer was aware of this, and his herd was always kept in a further field, that was gated. But the gate must have been left open by someone not local to the area, and a herd of cows had entered the field.
Fortunately, my dog was nowhere near the attack; it was clearly me the cows were after.
The Attack
I heard a thunder of hooves from behind, but too late to take evasive action. I was knocked to the ground. They surrounded me, and continued their attack by stamping on my body. I really thought I was going to be killed. I heard screaming – realised it was me!
School children braved the field and dragged me away to relative safety. They tried to call an ambulance, but the service insisted on an adult speaking to them before they would take action. So, the children ran to the village pub asking for help. There just happened to be First Aiders on a Snowdonia course in the area, who ran to my aid.
It was a fifty-mile journey to the nearest hospital in Bangor. Villagers took care of my terrified, unharmed (thank God) dog. On route, the ambulance stopped at a nearby town (Porthmadog) to alert my husband, at work there, and to advise him to follow the ambulance. He did not know what condition I was in or what had occurred, until he drove that distance to join me.
The Aftermath
I was in hospital for some time, and needed an operation for damage to my mid-section. A haematoma (a large internal collection of blood) had to be drained. My body was covered with hoof prints.
Afterwards, I was in a wheelchair for a few weeks, which held up our proposed sale and move to East Anglia, where we now live in retirement. I was very lucky to survive, this I do know. But now I am 68 my injuries remain and I need continual pain relief for mobility issues. I’m still covered in hoof marks on my legs, front and back, which have not faded. Sad, because my legs look awful and I cannot wear shorts.
Whenever I hear of further attacks, I get nightmares. Thank God, my dog was unharmed, but very frightened in future should she see any cattle.
No action was forthcoming by police or by the farmer. The police in Gwynedd took no action against the farmer claiming because Chloe, our dog, was off her lead, this contributed to attack. Despite the fact that they never came near my dog but it was me they concentrated on with stampede. My dog would have been killed for sure, if she had been on a lead. The farmer was not remotely interested. I am, of course, English, and was due to sell up and leave anyway.
Since then, we have left the area, and my husband is just glad to have me alive.
My story was printed in the Cambrian News, the local newspaper. Farmers Weekly heard of this from the Daily Mail, who had picked up the story; they wanted a statement from me to print in their issues. I confirmed that cattle cannot be trusted and walkers should never go near them.
Reflection and Thoughts
Farmers must be encouraged to put signs in their fields. Cows are not the doe-eyed creatures we grew up believing. A herd of cattle can be killers – we know this now. Even farmers are being attacked so, therefore, there must be some reason cattle are doing this to humans, including those who own and care for them. I would advise walkers not to enter any field that may be near other fields with cattle in; there may be a way through for these animals and they could attack.
Why do cattle attack? That should be investigated by animal behaviourists.
Talking to Jeremy Vine on the radio programme brought all this back to me, and hearing about the dreadful injury to Libby. Comments from other listeners made me realise I needed to share my feelings with you on this site. I am lucky to be alive. I’m now 68, and my husband will never shake the memory from his mind of seeing me injured when he was not there to protect me.
If that herd left me, a grown woman standing at 5’8″, with permanent injuries, what would it have done to a school child using that field daily to get to/from village school?
[Editor’s note: you can listen to Sharn sharing her experience on the Jeremy Vine radio show: Jeremy Vine: talking about cattle attacks.]
Photo credits: Pixabay header and screenshot from Daily Mail article
Report reference: 287074364
Cattle Safety 