I constantly relive the nightmare… the flashbacks are utterly terrifying and extremely distressing.
On the 6th July, 2020, I was walking a very familiar footpath, in the far west of Cornwall. I was with my daughter and two grandchildren, and we had our two dogs on leads. The path was very well-used. All of us including the dogs were very used to country walking.
Continue reading “Melanie’s Story: seriously injured by cattle attack.”The animal charged my wife… crushing her chest with its head.
Since the attack on myself and my wife (see my story below), the Health and Safety Executive have fully investigated the attack. They paid a visit to the landowner, and the cows have been removed from the spot where the attack took place.
They even came to see us face to face to inform us of the outcome of their investigation, and I would like to thank them for their time.
I would encourage anyone else who is attacked by cows to make sure they contact the Health and Safety Executive. They do take it very seriously.
Unfortunately, my wife is still off work, 10 weeks on from the attack.
On the 29th July, 2020, I was walking with my wife along a bridle path between Kettlewell and Starbotton, in the Yorkshire Dales. We had our little dog with us.
We came across a couple of cattle, and one calf was with them. At first we thought one of the cattle was a bull. I picked up our little dog, as she is just small, and we tried to give them as much distance as possible. But we were in the confinements of a walled bridle path (see photo above). Continue reading “Craig and Audrey: attacked by an angry cow.”
The cow veered around my husband, and threw me to the ground.
On the 30th July 2020, we were walking on a footpath through National Trust property at Pentire Point, near Polzeath, in Cornwall (Map reference SW 9321 8029). I was with my husband and two grandchildren.
Continue reading “Sonja’s story: trampled by a rogue cow.”I was just crouching in horror.
[Editor’s note: Since first publishing her story here, Chiaki has since given us more information about the event.]
On the 16th August 2020, I was walking on my own along a public footpath by the Cuckmere River in East Sussex.
Continue reading “Chiaki’s story: hiding in a bush (expanded version)”I had to wait for help in a bush.
On the 16th August 2020, I was walking on my own along a public footpath by the Cuckmere River in East Sussex.
I came across a group of black cows, who followed me. I had to jump into a small muddy stream to escape from them, then had to wait for help in a bush, surrounded by the cows. I was rescued by strangers.
I was frightened, and had scratches from the bush, but luckily no other injuries. I reported the incident to the police but, as far as I know, nobody is investigating it.
There were no warning signs about cattle, but a sign saying no dogs unless on a lead. I didn’t have a dog with me. If there was a warning about aggressive cows because of calves, I would not have used the public path especially on my own.
Location: Scrubbing.contexts.souk
We had to throw our 3 year old over the fence.
On the 16th August, we were walking on a public footpath near Fretherne in Gloucestershire, and had to cross a field of cows. Continue reading “Jordan and RT share their frightening encounters with cattle.”
Suddenly, the cow put its head down and ran at me.
On the 15th September, 2019, my husband and I were walking in Dartmoor National Park. We were on the bridleway from Whiteworks and heading towards Sherberton. (Grid reference 618717) Continue reading “Sarah’s Story: tossed into the air by a cow”
A cow charged straight at my ten-year-old son.
On the 28th June, 2020, my family were walking through a field on a public footpath. We were near Skidby, in the Yorkshire Wolds. Continue reading “A Mother’s Story: son attacked by a cow”
“Caution. Bull called Henry.”
On the 21st June, 2020, two of us were walking along a public footpath in the Sedgeberrow area, Worcestershire. We entered a field which had a warning sign saying “Caution bull called Henry” and also a public footpath sign. Continue reading “Jay’s Story: a geocaching adventure spoiled”
I was knocked to the ground, and knocked out.
in 2015, my husband and I were walking along a footpath near Buckingham, following a route we had found in a walking guidebook. We had our two Gordon Setters with us, both on a lead.
We entered a field. There were no warning signs about cattle, and to start with we didn’t see any cows in the field, but then they suddenly appeared. It was a herd of Limousin cows with calves, and with a bull among them.
The cows ran at us, and went for our older dog and knocked him down. He lay so still, we thought he was dead. My husband managed to pick up the dog, and then the cows started attacking me.
I was knocked to the ground, and knocked out.
I recovered consciousness after a few seconds and managed to get up for a moment, before falling down again. From then on, my memory of what happened is very unclear, and most of my story is based on what my husband told me afterwards.
My husband was also knocked down, but he jumped up again and tried to push the cows away from me. He set both dogs off their leads so they could escape, and the younger one ran away, but the older one just lay still on the ground.
The bull actually saved us, as he seemed to lead the cows away.
I got up again – although I have no memory of this – and managed to walk to the stile. I climbed over the stile and collapsed on the other side. Was totally unable to walk any further. Luckily there was a road there, and my husband flagged down some people in a car. We had no phone reception, but somebody drove to find a mobile signal, and they called an ambulance.
While we were waiting for the ambulance, a farm hand came over. He asked which cow had attacked us, and pointed out one in the herd. “Was it that one?” Thinking about this afterwards, it was clear there were some cows in the field who were known to be aggressive, and the farm hand knew it.
I was taken to the Radcliffe Infimary, where I had an MRI scan. It was discovered I had a fractured sternum and a fracture of my top cervical vertebra, at C1. I was concussed, but did not need any immediate emergency treatment, and they let me go home the same day.
Actually I was lucky. If the C1 vertebra had fractured right across, I could have ended up dead from brain stem injury.
Afterwards, I suffered from back pain. I’d never had back pain before, but required several sessions of osteopathy to help me recover.
Our old dog survived the attack. We think he played dead when he was first knocked down, and this probably saved his life. Sadly, he has since died, but he was an elderly dog and we have no way of knowing if the incident shortened his life.
I’m not better yet. My main problem is severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which has badly affected my life. I get extremely anxious if something is approaching at speed. This makes it impossible for me to drive on a motorway, and for a long time I couldn’t even sit in the front passenger seat of a car. After multiple sessions of a type of treatment called ‘Somatic Experiencing’, I’ve made some progress towards recovery. But I still have a long way to go.
Before this happened, I was fit and healthy, and a confident person. I was brought up with animals and am a qualified osteopath. In the past, I’ve given osteopathic treatment to cattle, and was always confident around cattle and never frightened of cows.
I was also a keen long distance walker. Now I only go for short walks to take the dogs out. If I want to do a longer walk, I usually go out with my husband. He saved my life that day.
Every time I go out, I have to plan the route carefully to avoid walking anywhere where there might be cows.
We did sue the farmer and eventually won some financial compensation. But nothing, of course, makes up for the trauma of the experience.
This has changed my life completely. Just thinking back and talking about what happened makes me feel distressed and shaky.
Top Image by Michael Gornig from Pixabay
Image of husband with dogs was supplied by the victim.
I pick a stick from a hedgerow, and leave it at the other side of the field
Having grown up in a rural area I was always taught to have a very healthy respect for cattle. We were told never to enter a field of cattle (or horses for that matter) without carrying a decent size stick. Continue reading “Frances says: take a big stick with you, and remember to check for cow pats”
I was knocked unconscious.
On the 3rd of July, 2017, I was walking with my husband along the Calderdale Way. We were close to Norwood Green, Halifax, in West Yorkshire. There were no warning signs about cattle on display, and we didn’t have a dog with us.
A group of Limousin cows were lying down in the far corner of the field. We kept as far away as possible to the right hand side of the field. The cows started to stir, but we kept walking calmly. Continue reading “Attacked by a Limousin cow”
Cattle Safety 