Report: 1284
Date: 02/08/21
Location: Todmorden, West Yorkshire. On footpath from East Whirlaw Farm to Style Road. Approximate map reference 255 936 on OS Map OL21
Single careful walker, no dog
John’s report: “I skirted around a group of cows as I walked downhill, but a number of the calves started to follow me. After that the cows started to run towards me and as I stumbled and fell , one or two cows trampled on me. I managed to phone my wife who came to assist me with our brother-in-law. My sister-in-law went to the farmer’s house and asked him to move the cattle. He was very reluctant, saying that it was his son’s job. He was only persuaded to move them when the air ambulance said that it would be dangerous to land with the cattle in such close proximity.”
John was airlifted to a trauma unit, this attack caused: Bilateral rib fractures ( 7 ribs broken on each side) and punctured lung leading to haemopneumothorax (air and blood in the chest cavity.) Lacerations to kidney and liver. A posterolateral thoracotomy (surgery of the chest) was performed, the haemothorax was washed out and titanium plated inserted to fix 4 ribs.
John reported this to the Health & Safety Executive and comments: “The investigation was very slow. I didn’t get a final update until about 9 months after the incident. As a result of the investigation, ( I assume) a number of notices have gone up in fields in the area stating that there are cows with calves in the field. However, the signs stay in place throughout the year so are not very useful.”
Killer cows comments: This attack was extremely savage and could have proved fatal, it was completely unprovoked. We are relieved John survived this awful attack, but all that trauma and suffering could have been prevented by a simple fence. Signs that stay in place all year round do nothing to keep people safe or informed.
Cattle Safety 
how do we get the legislation to change?
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It’s difficult. We suggest that everyone who experiences an incident with aggressive cows report it to their MP, and to the Health & Safety Executive. They issue guidance, but don’t seem to enforce it.
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Have we ever tried a petition to parliament?
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Our core group has discussed this, and we believe it’s a good path, but needs a lot of backing to get to parliament – perhaps now is a time to talk again about this?
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This is awful. I feel that putting up a sign is about as useful as putting up a sign to say there are clouds in the sky so it might rain. You will likely have noticed the recent fatality at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk where a 70 year old man was killed by cattle.
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Agree. Yes, a terrible case in Felbrigg.
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