Category: horror stories

Experienced lady walker trampled on Pennine Way

Incident number: 1189

Response ID: 316,492,620

Date of incident: 24.08.25

Location: On the Pennine Way between Tan Hill Inn and Keld. (Grid ref NY 888, 036 what3words:///slant.nicely.drama)

Status: Group of between 3 and 5 people with dogs on lead on PRoW

Abi’s story

“On Sunday 24th August I was charged at and trampled by a herd of cows at this location. I believe that these particular cows are a danger to the public. I am an experienced mountain leader and regularly lead group walks, including this 11-mile circular route from Keld. I have encountered cattle on numerous occasions with and without dogs and always managed to have a safe experience. On Sunday I was with 4 clients, 1 of which had a collie dog with her, and I had two springer spaniels with me. All three dogs are very calm and quiet. We were heading South on the Pennine Way from Tan Hill Inn towards Keld and as we were walking we were passed other walkers coming North towards us. The last few groups of people warned us of some aggressive cows at the gate ahead. When I checked the map I realised this was approx a km away and I said I would stay vigilant and proceed with caution. We made sure our dogs were on lead and continued with carefully. As we got within sight of the cows we saw a couple come through the gate and pass through the cows with no issue, so continued on the path slowly another 100m, checking for alternative route. As we got closer I realised the cows had noticed us and were watching our movement (and mostly our dogs). We were still about hundred metres away, so I suggested heading uphill towards a hole in the wall instead of going through the gate ahead. We continued slowly at a 45 degree angle to the cows aiming for our escape route, but the cows started to trot towards us. I was ahead with my dogs while the others were behind us a little further back. I stopped and the cows stopped trotting, but had now got a lot closer. I decided to take another couple steps towards the wall, but as I did the cows came towards me, breathing heavily, so I stopped. I said “woah” to calm them and reassure them, but two of them put their heads down and charged, the others followed and I was thrown through the air onto my back and trampled. At some point during this I released the dogs who ran away. I managed to turn to protect my body (I had a big backpack on which shield my back), but I feared for my life. The other people with me distracted the cows by shouting at them to stop, which made the cows back off and I was able to get up with only some bruising. The lady with her collie then picked up her dog and headed for the gate as this was now clear. My dogs followed her and they managed to escape. The cows looked to charge at me again, causing me to trip over, but then followed the dogs to the gate and I was able to get up and lead everyone else to climb through the hole in the wall to join our friend on the other side of the wall. I realise that having the dogs meant we were more at risk, but other people passing us and warning us hadn’t had dogs and still felt threatened by this cattle herd. We did not startle them or aggravate them and we attempted to take a wide berth. At no point on the whole walk did we see any sign warning of cattle ahead.”

Abi has reported this to the HSE and adds “I would like these cattle to be fenced away from the public right of way. A warning sign wasn’t present, but wouldn’t have been enough. I believe I would have been very seriously injured had I been alone.”

“Everyone should be able to Walk safely on a public footpath without fear. My life will never be the same again”

Incident number: 1072

Response ID: 313,179,697

Date of incident: 2020

Location: East Yorkshire

Status: 2 People with no dog

A horrible ordeal back in 2020. The people involved wish to remain anonymous due to the trauma they suffered

“We entered the field, a cow approached me from behind and pushed me to the ground, then the rest of the herd came up and attacked both myself and my husband leaving us badly injured. The group of cows that attacked us were a Stabiliser breed.

I had multiple broken ribs, a fractured shoulder, a collapsed lung, a haematoma on my head and lung, damaged nerves in my leg and PTSD. My husband was airlifted and I went by road ambulance.

This incident has been investigated by the HSE”

Our thoughts go out to this couple as we understand the ongoing trauma that they have suffered. If they wish to discuss this with anyone in our group please contact us via email (you did not leave us a contact email)  or Contact – Killer Cows

Janet’s story: Hospitalised for 10 days

Incident number: 915

Response ID: 305,149,576

Date: 27.07.21

Location: Twixt Hutton le Hole and Appleton le Moors, North Yorkshire

This is a historic event but needs telling to warn others of the dangers involved with cows.

Janet had always loved cows and had done this walk on numerous occasions with her husband and her dogs. They were on a public footpath and saw the cows approaching and realising they were in danger, they released the dogs. One of the dogs was so traumatised that it was only found the morning after. Janet’s husband John was headbutted by one of the cattle and was thrown  almost 1.5 metres into the air. They then came for Janet. She said “Shoo, shoo, shoo” which made them back off a little, but then one came and knocked her over. Fortunately she was spotted and helped over a fence by off duty firefighter who called an ambulance. Both Janet and John had multiple injuries including fractured ribs and a punctured lung and were both in James Cook Hospital for 10 days. The Police and HSE have both been involved and legal case has been actioned against the farmer.

“Overall it was deeply stressful, we are lucky to be alive!”

Airlifted to hospital by helicopter on New Year’s day. The second incident on Totley Moor in just a few months.

Incident number: 904

Response ID: 304,799,249

Date: 01.01.24

Location: Totley Moor, Derbyshire, Peak District

Cheska’s story “I was walking along the bridleway with my deaf elderly dog and partner. A herd of cows were seen in the distance and plenty of people had walked past them prior to us facing them. As we got closer the herd split up so we stopped to allow the rest of the herd to join where they were migrating to. As we had stopped one of the cows that had already crossed looked up and charged towards my dog. I got caught in the middle and was thrown in the air and suffered an open fracture to my tibia and fibula. As I had to lay on the floor the cow tried to charge at me again but I screamed in the cows face, shouting for help and the cow re-joined its herd. The bridleway was busy so it was easy to get attention of other walkers, Edale mountain rescue were called, they re-established blood flow to my leg and an air ambulance was called to take me to the hospital. I have had two surgery’s since, and as I’m pregnant (we had just found out) I had to be awake for both surgery’s! I suffer from severe PTSD and needed extensive therapy and physiotherapy

There were no signs for cattle & I’m shocked to learn what happened to me had happened to somebody just a few months prior in almost the same circumstances!”

Alison’s horrific incident that still affects her deeply

Incident number: 835

Response ID: 300,776,430

Date: 11/08/2015

Location: Hartsop near Patterdale in the Lake District

In her own words ……..

“It was the first day or our holiday. My husband had gone cycling. My brother and I were walking through a field with cows in the distance, I put the dog on the lead because I didn’t want him to chase them. (he didn’t usually but I was being cautious.) A few minutes later I noticed that the cows had come closer and the next thing I knew I was being headbutted in my chest and trampled. I just remember thinking that this couldn’t really be happening and that it really hurt!. I managed to stagger up but they butted me again. I have no idea if it was one to two who were attacking me.

I covered by face and my brother managed to grab me and pull me to safety. It was probably all over in a few minutes but felt like forever. At no point did I think I wasn’t going to make it, survival instinct kicked in. We had no mobile reception so my brother left me to find a phone. Other people arrived and tried to help. I was really struggling to breathe but was pretty numb and shocked.

The air ambulance took me to Preston where I was diagnosed with 2 collapsed lungs, multiple broken ribs, a big laceration on my right knee which required operating on, a broken hand which required an operation and pins, a broken collar bone and horrendous bruises all over my body and my face in particular. I was in hospital for 10 days with 2 operations on my knee and hand. I also received physio for weeks after and psychological help because I was diagnosed with PST and even now, just a photo of a cow makes my stomach churn.”

Fast forward to today and Alison is understandably still very cautious.

She says several things “I would like better signage but sometimes signs say that there are cows with calves in fields but they don’t offer an alternative route. My friend and I take so many “cow avoidance routes” probably climbing fences we shouldn’t just to get away from them. We had another experience recently where we had no way out and had to clamber through streams and woodlands to get out of harm’s way. This time the cows were so inquisitive but who knew what was likely to happen. I would like better advice on what to do, some say wave your arms, some say don’t, keep dog on lead or not, I sometimes think farmers put cows in fields to stop you walking through!!”

Angela’s story – Aggressive cow attacks walkers in Cheddar Gorge

292,890,420 Report Number 806

Date: 21/10/23

Where: Cheddar gorge , Black Rock walk , grid ref: ST482546 for car park at start of walk

Who was involved: 2 walkers , no dog, single black cow with a calf

We were walking along the footpath and a lone cow and calf were coming towards us. As we passed by, not making any noise and giving them a wide berth, the cow charged at my friend and started to head butt and attack him, pushing him into the hedge with force with repeated head butting.

Continue reading “Angela’s story – Aggressive cow attacks walkers in Cheddar Gorge”

Grace’s story – “I was bashed from cow to cow a good few times before ending up on the floor”

Not an experience I would wish on anybody! For me, I was completely unaware that this kind of thing happens, and happens far more frequently than you think!

26/08/2023 – Goosnargh, Lancashire, details of an attack involving a mixed herd of beef cattle, with cows, bulls and calves.

It was around 09.30 on Saturday morning of August bank holiday and rather than walking my dog around the houses, I decided to take him into the fields at the back of my estate. There is a public footpath that crosses the field that I have walked many times without any concern and whilst I could see that there were cows, I didn’t feel uncomfortable about passing through (perhaps my naivety!) as the cows were some way off and I have walked through plenty of fields with cows in before. I was minding my own business, with my dog on his lead, not presenting any threatening behaviour when a herd of some 20/25 cows starting charging towards me. There are parts of the incident which I cannot fully remember but I do remember being stood there, thinking that surely they were just coming to encourage me to change direction, never did I think that they would attack me. 

Continue reading “Grace’s story – “I was bashed from cow to cow a good few times before ending up on the floor””

Several accounts from Pennard, nr Swansea – are visitors safe?

Read the tales of cattle incidents – bitten walkers, charged at golfers, stampeded schoolchildren, scared tourists

The National Trust look after the land around Pennard, Southgate and Three Cliffs Bay, on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales. There is common land across this region and cattle have rights to roam freely over this small tourist hotspot. There is a golf course at Pennard adjoining the common land and the cattle roam across this also.

This is spectacular landscape, Swansea tourist board name this as one of the most photographed areas in Gower. The tourist board suggest several walks that can be taken around here and the Welsh Coastal Path traverses the area. This region sees a high number of visitors.

But neither the National Trust nor the Swansea Tourist Board warn of the dangers posed by the cattle.

We have identified 9 reports of stampedes or threatening and aggressive behaviour by the cattle in this region; our first report is from 2021, but the other 8 are from 2023, all were placed by members of the public onto Killer Cows reporting site. These reports provide evidence that these cattle are behaving in a way that is dangerous to the public. Most of these incidents are not being followed up by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and without our site would not have been connected and the danger may have been missed. We need a central database that people can report all incidents too, so dangerous cattle can be identified before someone is killed or badly injured!

Killer cows believe that all of these attacks and incidents could have been extremely serious. Not one school child, walker or tourist or golfer did anything wrong – surely they should expect to be safe on such a famous, well-frequented, coastal footpath area?

Continue reading “Several accounts from Pennard, nr Swansea – are visitors safe?”

Julie’s story – “There are now two cow attacks on Totley Moor, near Sheffield, mine in August 2023 and now a recent one on 1st January 2024”

Update on Julie’s story:

Subject: 2 cow attacks 24.8.23 & 1.1.24 on Totley Moor near Sheffield

Julie has recontacted our team after reading of a recent attack in the same area she was attacked – the link to a press report of the attack follows:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/woman-left-with-broken-leg-after-being-attacked-by-cow-while-out-dog-walking-in-yorkshire/ar-AA1mmi68

Julie say “Having read today of another woman being attacked nearby by a cow on New Year’s day, I have reported both attacks today to HSE. It seems to me that at least one cow in this herd is unsafe to be grazing on unfenced open moorland near a popular bridleway. I have sent the photo of the cow which attacked me, (said photo is now the featured image on this post) The ear tag number is not visible, but perhaps the farmer might be able to identify his cow?”
Continue reading “Julie’s story – “There are now two cow attacks on Totley Moor, near Sheffield, mine in August 2023 and now a recent one on 1st January 2024””

Hugh’s story – Airlifted from the scene

“Land with footpaths crossing it should not contain cattle”

It was the 24th of June 2023. I was staying in a cottage in Snowdonia with a friend.

We were jogging quietly along the track that led up to our holiday cottage. With no warning two cows ran from behind at us, and as they came from behind we did not even know they were there.

My friend managed to escape by jumping a wall, in the process injuring his knee which needed stitches. I slipped as I ran and fell. One cow attacked me causing serious injuries.

I was airlifted from the scene and spent two weeks on a major trauma ward. I had fractured ribs that caused a pneumothorax (air in the chest cavity,) a fractured spine, a fractured jaw, a leg laceration (massive wound in the leg,) multiple bruising and a lumbar hernia. I am off work while I recover from these injuries.

We subsequently discovered that there were cows with calves in the field. We did not have a dog, our attack was completely unprovoked.

The attack was reported to the farmer who was unhelpful and unsympathetic.

I believe that land with footpaths crossing it should not contain cattle.

289,043,524 incident number 761