Attack near Belstone – the situation with dangerous cows in this area is long-standing.

Response ID 310,634,018
Report number: 1057

Date of attack: 2/10/18

Location: Sticklepath, near Okehampton, Devon. It’s a footpath from Sticklepath to Belstone along the river (Skaigh valley)

Report: “I was walking with 3 dogs and saw a cow coming towards me, so I got off the main path with the dogs to give the cow room to get past. As it was going past it suddenly turned & headbutted me in the chest , I fell to the ground & she started trampling , pushing & kicking me, I thought I was going to die. I lay still & eventually (probably not as long as it felt) she wondered off. There is always someone around, but not that day. I think adrenaline got me up, back to the car with the dogs & I drove home. Once there I told my partner & 2 girls & then I seized up. They took me to A&E and I was immediately admitted. I remained in hospital for nearly 2 weeks as I had 7 broken ribs, punctured lung & lots of abrasions ( later found I had kidney disease & the trauma had affected that too) whilst in hospital I got pneumonia too so I was a mess.”

“It wasn’t investigated because apparently the cows have grazing rights on the moor (including this area) & several farmers have their cows there so didn’t know whose cow it was.“

“My main concern is that I nearly died & I didn’t do anything wrong or anything to cause what happened to me. I’m still not right & never will be the same again , yet there is no compensation or comeback. That is surely not right. My partner went to the police but nothing happened.”

Killer Cows comment: Grazing rights do not give a grazier right to graze dangerous animals, the grazier is responsible for that cow and its behaviour – but how do individuals know who’s cattle trample them – there should be a joint liability of graziers for this area.