Incident number: 777
Response number: 290,254,769
28th August 2023
Glandy Cross (Wales)
My husband and I were looking at the ancient stone circle at Glandy Cross without a dog. There were cows two fields away. One was looking at us and was mooing loudly. I got caught up in looking at the stones and was behind a bush. My husband shouted that it was time to go from further down the field near the gate. I didn’t hear him mention cows but apparently he did but it was a distance away. Not being aware of the danger I strolled back and he started shouting at me to run. I turned and realised that a herd of about15 cows were about ten feet behind me looking agitated. I froze. I climbed on to a low bank to give myself some thinking space when he shouted that there were more cows behind me. I could feel the breath of one on my neck. The cows weren’t advancing. I looked to my husband and the minute I took my eyes off them they quickly advanced another three feet. They were very agitated. I didn’t want to enrage them but needed to do something so I kept eye contact, shouted loudly and backed away slowly. My husband came back into the field to distract them. I moved slowly and they slowly stalked me. When I got near enough to the gate I ran. The minute I did, they charged and I just got through the kissing gate before they came crashing into the fence. I learned that if a cow is mooing aggressively it’s time to go. Also, it seemed that my running was a trigger for the final charge.
Zepmum says “I heard today that an ex colleague of mine was attacked by a cow a few days ago. She suffered a broken pelvis and had to be airlifted. She was with her husky and a dog but I don’t know any more details yet.”
Cattle Safety 