Julie’s story – “There are now two cow attacks on Totley Moor, near Sheffield, mine in August 2023 and now a recent one on 1st January 2024”

Update on Julie’s story:

Subject: 2 cow attacks 24.8.23 & 1.1.24 on Totley Moor near Sheffield

Julie has recontacted our team after reading of a recent attack in the same area she was attacked – the link to a press report of the attack follows:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/woman-left-with-broken-leg-after-being-attacked-by-cow-while-out-dog-walking-in-yorkshire/ar-AA1mmi68

Julie say “Having read today of another woman being attacked nearby by a cow on New Year’s day, I have reported both attacks today to HSE. It seems to me that at least one cow in this herd is unsafe to be grazing on unfenced open moorland near a popular bridleway. I have sent the photo of the cow which attacked me, (said photo is now the featured image on this post) The ear tag number is not visible, but perhaps the farmer might be able to identify his cow?”

This is the story of Julie’s attack

It was the 24th of August 2023. Two of us were walking from a layby on the road along a public bridleway on Totley moor. This is access land on Longsaw Estate, near railway ventilation shaft, in the northern Peak District.

Unnoticed by us there was a small sign warning of the presence of cattle, this sign also gave a phone number to report cattle incident.

We didn’t have a dog with us and proceeded confidently along the track. We noticed a few cows grazing quietly on moorland each side of track, none closer than 2-3m from track edge. Suddenly a calf ran across the track 1-2m ahead of me. The next thing I knew a cow behind me headbutted me to ground, I got up but it headbutted me to the ground again and then proceeded to trample on me, deliberately stamping its front feet hard on my chest and left face on my cheek.

An ecologist doing a survey nearby heard my screams and noticed a change in the herd behaviour – they rang the office, and a RSPB / Moorland partnership site manager arrived in a landrover.

I gave an immediate recorded interview to the officer who said they would launch an investigation. I was informed the cow was a Longhorn breed.

I was treated in A&E for significant injuries; a Rotator cuff tear (severe shoulder damage). I was covered in large hoof-size bruises and cuts to my front chest wall, breasts, right half of face, ear, cut lip, also both lower legs.

An Xray showed no shoulder fracture, my chest was not xrayed.

My arm was put in a sling. Strong opiate painkillers prescribed by GP (oxycodone), also paracetamol & ibuprofen. Initial physiotherapy exercises given , further physiotherapy will be needed.

The farmer was ordered to remove cattle to a place with no public access the same day. Cattle were not visible from the adjacent road 2 days later.

Julie says:

“Should we have a change in law, cows with calves not permitted in fields/countryside with public paths or public access. I appreciate there’s a balance between farmers livelihoods/ economics of land use and leisure users.”

“I feel lucky, I could easily have been fatally injured or suffered a serious abdominal or chest injury.”

“A friend of mine was trampled by a cow (she also had no dog) a couple of years ago had complex pelvic fractures, she is now in a wheelchair with long term limitation on her walking & she is unable to resume her folk dance hobby.”

289,390,985 incident 768