My husband barely got through the tiny opening, before the bullocks hit the gate full on.
In 2010, I was crossing a field with my husband. We were on a public footpath in the Duddon Valley, near Seathwaite Village, Cumbria (Grid Ref: SD 2278096094). We didn’t have a dog with us. Continue reading “Charged by bullocks, and a lucky escape”
Many visitors to our Killer Cows site have suggested the use of electric fencing to keep cattle separated from walkers on a public footpath.
One of our commentators, Martin, has taken the time to create a simple diagram to explain how the fencing could be moved during the day to allow cattle access to the whole field, while still protecting the footpath.
Continue reading “Electric wire fencing”
Limousin cows are the breed we most often feature in our Horror Stories section.
Why? Because they are now the commonest type of beef cattle farmed in the UK, and because Limousin cows do seem to be more aggressive than traditional British breeds.
It’s not just humans who are at risk. Just look at what happened in Ireland, when a swan made the mistake of landing in a field of Limousins.
The entire herd charged the poor bird, intent on trampling it. Luckily the swan was eventually rescued, and is recovering on a nearby lake.
Read the whole story in the Irish Mirror.
Photo of swan being chased by the herd of cattle: photo credit Dan Linehan.
Look out for dodgy fences, and cow pats.
We asked for useful tips to help us stay safe while out in the countryside. Here, David discusses techniques for avoiding cattle while out walking. Continue reading “Staying safe around cattle”
Another cow trampling attack on a public footpath.
On the 5th October 2017, just a few weeks ago, Lianne Hutchinson was out walking her dog on a public footpath near Darlington. Suddenly, a cow barged through the fence and attacked her.
David describes his lengthy battle to achieve compensation for his injuries after being attacked by cattle. Despite the many setbacks, he recommends taking legal action if you are the victim of a cattle attack, and he explains why.
Read David’s article here: Thinking of suing? Pitfalls and delays
Libby found a sympathetic lawyer, who made sure she understood the process of litigation, and who helped her and her husband win recompense for their injuries and suffering. Libby explains step-by-step what you need to do in a similar situation.
Read Libby’s article here: Help I’ve been injured by cattle. What do I do?
In the end, whether a victim decides to sue or not will depend on individual circumstances. We hope reading about other people’s experiences will help you work out the best course of action for you.
Libby is a farmer’s daughter and was brought up amongst livestock. She wasn’t scared of cows… not until she was trampled and nearly lost her life.
“I was one of those walkers who felt that people who worried about cows were just townies who didn’t understand them,” she explains. “I know differently now.”
Following her experience, Libby is much more cautious.
“Now, I have a set of personal rules when I embark on a walk, to try to keep me, and anyone I walk with, safe.”
Before entering a field of cattle, Libby makes the following checks:
For an extended version of Libby’s rules, and to read more of her advice, go here: Libby’s tips for staying safe around cattle.
We picked up the dogs and ran.
In April 2014, we visited the stones at Stonehenge, and decided to walk back using the footpath rather than the road. There were two of us and we had our two small dogs, who were both on a lead.
There were a herd of heifers over by the fence in the far corner of the field. As we walked towards the gate, the herd started to move rapidly towards us, pushing us close to the fence.
We headed towards a gate – but it was locked. We picked up the dogs and ran to get to another gate, and managed to escape without being harmed.
I reported it to English Heritage (who manage Stonehenge} when they asked for feedback on our visit. This was at a well-used tourist site. The path should be separated from the cows… we were badly scared.
Should you sue? If you were injured by cattle, the answer is YES. But the process is not always straightforward.
David was seriously injured after he was attacked by cows while crossing a field on a public footpath. But the farmer wasn’t insured, and that meant David had difficulty finding a firm of solicitors willing to take his case. After he did manage to start legal proceedings, there were delays, and then came a pitiful offer…
Read more about David’s experiences here: Thinking of suing? Pitfalls and delays.
They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place, but cows certainly can. Continue reading “Another trample on Devil’s Dyke”
The cattle came charging at us.
On the 22nd September, 2017, we were walking across the footpath of the Millennium woods, near Cilcain village, north Wales. There were just the two of us and we had our border collie Nell on a lead. Continue reading “Near miss: Tony and Sue’s narrow escape”
“I know I’m so lucky to be alive.”
In this video clip, Ann Doherty describes how she was attacked by a bull in 2010. The incident happened when Ann found the road blocked by cows, got out of her car, and wandered into the bull’s field, by mistake. Continue reading “Irish story – Ann Doherty”
Cattle Safety 