Injuries – Page 3 – Cattle Safety

Dreadful attack along the Rochdale Canal

Response ID 308,860,893

Report number 1032

Date of incident: 30/06/23

Location: Alongside the canal at Smithybridge (Hollingworth lake, Rochdale)

Account: “I was dog walking along the canal at Smithybridge. It is a tarmac public footpath, which cars use as a short cut. I had 2 frenchie dogs on leads, not barking. There was one cow half on the path and I was wondering whether to walk behind or turn round and take the 2 mile walk back instead. When I got to approx 5ft from it, it backed up a couple of steps completely blocking the path. When I turned to go back there were approx 8 more behind me. As soon as I turned they started scraping their hooves and mooing. I let go of the dogs, next thing I knew I was knocked (luckily) into a ditch.

I curled up into a fetal ball whilst they circled and tried to stamp on me. The noise was horrendous, I really didn’t think I would survive. Then it went quiet. I was afraid to even look up. I crawled in agony to the cattle grid ( I don’t know the distance but it took me about 30 mins). The dogs were sat waiting. I called a friend to come for me. We took the dogs back to the house and then she took me to hospital. I had 4 fractured ribs, a fractured collar bone and a bust ankle. I stayed overnight but had to look after the dogs, so signed myself out the next day. I called the police to see if they needed it on record…they said no it’s a civil matter.”

She adds “I would like the adverts on tv where there are men/woman stroking cows in a field to stop.”

Cee wants footpaths kept open with electric fencing if cattle are in a field with a footpath.

Response ID 309,769,038

Report number 1040
Date: 8/11/24
Location: imported.perch.cursing Field between long lane and Ennys lane, St Hilary, Cornwall
Cows with calves in the field.

Description: I was walking my dog on a footpath across the field, she was on a lead, she is scared of cows so was pulling away from them. We got herded into the hedge by the cattle and then I got head butted and knocked over. I managed to get out of the field but then realised my phone had been knocked out of my pocket so I had to go back. I tied Kenza up and went to look for it. Unfortunately I was knocked over again and then there was a sustained attack by two or three of them. I really thought my number was up. They were trampling me and head butting. They only stopped when I stopped moving and I eventually managed to crawl to a gateway and escape into another field.”

“I have chipped a tooth, another is very wobbly. I had a nose bleed. I am covered in bruises and can barely walk. This has only just happened so I am not sure of the extent of my injuries.”

Update: Cee has now been assessed at hospital and found to have broken ribs and a broken vertebra as a result of the cow attack – these are significant and serious injuries that will take time to recover from!

Cee would like “warning signs when there are cows with calves in fields with footpaths and footpaths kept open with electric fencing, with fines for farmers who don’t do this.”

“I do think there could be an electric fence particularly when cows with calves are in the field.”

Response ID 309,309,590

Report number 1039

Date of incident: 4/6/92

Location: Easenhall Nr Rugby Warwickshire . Public bridleway. Belgian Blue cows with year old calves in the field.

Report: “My husband and I have walked through this field for many years with our 3 dogs on leads with no problems, our dogs were quiet. This particular day the cows were very noisy and unsettled. They ran down the slope towards us and bowled me over and then l was trampled. My husband managed to drag me away and two of the dogs ran away, one stayed with us.”

“I needed emergency hospital treatment for badly crushed legs and slight concussion. I spent several days in hospital and had treatment over months for ulcerated legs and was off work for 6 months.”

“We informed the farmer and the police and did try for some form of redress but after several months were told as we were fighting the farmers union we had no chance of success and we couldn’t afford to pursue it further. The local paper did a report on this subject. I do think there could be an electric fence particularly when cows with calves are in the field.”

Father’s quality of life severely impacted after a cattle attack nr Chipping Norton

Response ID 308,967,877

Report number: 1036

Date of attack: 15/08/24

Location: Chipping Norton – on a popular public footpath through a field to the left of the London Road as you come into town.

Report: “On 15th August, my 83yr old father was found seriously injured and trampled by cows on a public footpath near Chipping Norton. That accident has fundamentally changed his life. He regularly walked that path through the field by himself as part of his usual 4 mile route. There were sometimes cows in the field – which he simply ignored. On the day of the accident, we don’t know exactly what happened as he doesn’t remember it (nor the following 11 days when he was in hospital). At c. 3.30 in the afternoon he was seen by the farmer’s wife, who sent the farmer out to investigate. It was obvious he was badly hurt, and he was taken to A&E by ambulance. Due to his lack of consciousness and subsequent confusion, I was not called until c. 9.30 that night. When I got to A&E I discovered he had been trampled, resulting in major injuries.”

Another attack by a cow near Belstone

Response ID 308,834,896

Report number 1031

Date of incident: 27/10/24

Location: 2 people walking on the public footpath out of Belstone Cleave back towards Belstone on the top path near Skaigh.

Single cow, Belted Galloway.

Report: “We were walking single file along the narrow path when a single cow suddenly appeared from the undergrowth a couple of feet in front of us. In a split second it had knocked me to the ground and kicked me, my husband then shouted and it turned and head butted him in the chest sending him flying. It all happened in a few seconds, truly terrifying.”

“We suffered bruised ribs, legs and base of spine.”

Valerie suggests warning signs or maybe moving the cows to an enclosed field!

Another Belstone Dartmoor encounter

Incident number: 1018

Response ID: 308,473,978

Date of incident: 19.10.24

Location: On Dartmoor above Belstone. On a path used by other walkers going downhill into valley to cross a stream.

Status: A group of 3-5 people with Dog on Lead on PROW

Peter’s story which was reported to Dartmoor Councillors

“We were walking on Dartmoor having entered the moor from Belstone. We passed various cattle without incident. We decided to use a path going down to a valley bottom in order to get back to Belstone. On a very narrow part of the path we were suddenly aware of cattle behind us led by adult cow. We stood aside on bank to let them through, me on the other side of the path from the others. We had no means of escape. The lead cow bellowed and started attacking me with feet and head. I fell in to scrub and then fell over an edge in to an area lower down which probably saved me from serious injury from the cow. My friends screamed at the cows and my partner hit the attacker cow repeatedly with her coat. The cows then turned and went off. I had grazing to my legs under my jeans and bruising I think to my ribs in my back. I managed to walk back to the car at Belstone.”

He adds “Warning signs should be erected, although we couldn’t have predicted the attack and we weren’t being followed by cattle when we took the path going downhill. As it was on Dartmoor I assume the cattle can’t be confined.”

Cattle attack causes broken bones in a popular Yorkshire tourist spot

Incident number: 1000

Response ID: 307,458,160

Date of incident: 20.09.24

Location: Fields below the Saltergate car park on the A169 at the Hole of Horcum

Status: Two people with dog on the lead on PRW

Dave S’s story

“We were walking on a public footpath but in an unfamiliar area. The cows were congregated around the gate from the field so it was difficult to go around them. A few started bellowing and moving towards us and we backed away. One barged into me and flicked it’s head sending me backwards. I just managed to stay on my feet and we climbed over a barbed wire fence to escape”

Dave was diagnosed with a cracked rib after a hospital visit.

He adds “The path could easily have been fenced off or even divided through a different field”

Serious Injuries and an A and E visit

Incident number: 999

Response ID: 307,458,142

Date of incident: 24.07.24

Location: St Johns in the Vale, Near Keswick Cumbria (What 3 words beads.successes.goodness)

Status: Loan walker with dog on lead on PRW

Mark’s story

“Had been unable to locate the end of the planned public path and so had to follow another public path onto the valley floor and along the side of St John Beck north east of Thirlmere reservoir. After passing through a field with cattle entered another field and after passing a heard of approx. 16 – 18 cattle roughly have adult half calf’s I looked back an noticed they were starting to follow me. This then developed into a gallop with one adult at the front heading towards me. I moved over from the path to an area of reeds and water thinking if I get across they wouldn’t follow but before I got much further the front cow dropped down as I had already slipped down and then crashed into me. It’s head into my left side and I believe one of its knees into my leg”

Mark sustained two broken ribs and tibia plateau fracture in my his leg.

Marks adds “I would like to see improvements in public path signage and maintenance. At the end of the day I would not have had to enter this field to get back to my starting point if the path I wanted which was on the other side of a stone wall with no cattle could of been located.”

Lucky to escape with minor injuries

Incident number: 992

Response ID: 307,063,688

Date of incident: 15.09.24

Location: Near the car park at Upper Burbage, near Sheffield

Status: Group of 3-5 people with one dog on a lead. (There were signs warning of cattle)

Sophie’s story

“We were try to pass on a path, with cows on either side of the path, giving them space. One of the cows charged at one member of the group, headbutting him repeatedly and headbutting and trampling the dog. Once he had passed we thought this had ended as the cow turned back away but then all of a sudden turned round and charged at him again. Our dog was injured and we thankfully only suffered minor injuries”

We wish Sophie and her party well and hope the poor dog is ok

Another attack at Belstone! 3 days apart

Report number: 988
Date of incident: 11/9/2024
Location: Belstone – by nine maidens. W3W ///sprouting.split.upstarts on Tarka Trail, Devon

Single aggressive cow – like the near miss 3 days ago

T-P’s Report: “I was running on the main track as I do frequently. There no forewarning that the cow was agitated. I always give any cow a wide berth. My dogs were on a lead. Next thing I knew I felt the full force of a cow charging into me. I let go of dogs when I fell to ground. The cow ignored the dogs and continued to jump and trample and kick me. The cow would not stop the attack. I managed to crawl through the gorse and somehow got on my feet and ran away. I went to A&E and was sent home.”

Wife’s comments: “I want to make folk aware of a cow charge and trample on my husband and dog yesterday. This was totally unprovoked and both dogs were on lead. He was running along and did not even see the cow until he felt it charge into him and knock him over. The cow then repeatedly kicked and trampled on him, until he has was finally able to get up and run. He is a fit, very strong bloke, I don’t think this would be so easy for many of us.

He has sustained a black eye, multiple fractured ribs along with cuts, bruises and countless splinters all over his body.

Sadly one of our dogs has been seriously injured, the foot was almost degloved and had 3 hrs of emergency surgery last night on his leg. We are just taking it day by day with his injury as the outcome isn’t certain, the leg may not be saved. Huge thanks to North Park Veterinary Group for their amazing emergency care.”

This attack has been reported to the police, the farmer, HSE, Dartmoor commoners and the Belstone commoners.

Killer cows hope both man and dog make a good recovery after this completely unprovoked attack; there seems to be a problem with an aggressive cow here, we have a near miss report (number 987) in the same spot 3 days prior, link to it here –https://killercows.co.uk/2024/09/16/julia-thinks-farmers-who-know-they-have-aggressive-cattle-should-be-made-to-graze-their-cattle-away-from-the-public/

Ingrid is chased by bullocks on the South Downs Way

Report Number 983
Date of incident: 22/8/2021
Location: On the South Downs Way, just across the A road between Housedean Farm and Southease, near the top of a large hill.

Group of bullocks (young bulls), lone walker, dog on lead

Report: “I got to a gated field which the South Downs Way ran directly through, where I saw what appeared to be a couple of young bullocks rearing up and bucking when a couple with a dog passed by, the couple were walking slowly, and didn’t appear to be in any immediate danger, so I stupidly opened the gate and tried to walk past, staying close to the fence. When the cows clocked me they suddenly gave chase, and I had to fling myself over the fence to get away from them.”

“The fence was topped with barbed wire and I was wearing shorts, so I tore one of my legs up quite badly and had three long scratches on it for a few weeks afterwards. It was getting dark by the time I reached the bottom of the hill and I was quite shaken.”

“I had to have a tetanus jab and my GP double-checked my scratches.”

Comment re signage “There was a sign at the bottom of the hill, warning of a bull in the field, but no sign on the gate I actually went through.”

Comment by Ingrid “The field that was occupied by the cows covered an extremely large and irregularly shaped stretch of the south downs way, I would appreciate it if farmers could, where possible, keep large herds away from some of our country’s most popular walking trails.”

Mike is trampled by an aggressive cow

Report number 971
Date of incident: 23/5/2022
Location: swung.fever.quiz nr Cwmoody Wales

Group of cows with calves in the field, they were a Charolais/Limousin cross.

Account: ” I was crossing a field on a public footpath with my dog on a lead. A cow was resting under some trees, spotted me and raced across towards me. The cow initially attacked my dog. I tried to save my dog and was then attacked by the most aggressive cow. I was knocked to the ground and butted by this aggressive cow. I tried to get up a couple of times and was knocked back down. Eventually I managed to get to a round bale feeder and sort refuge where I rang the emergency services for help.

I suffered extensive bruising and cuts to my face and severely bruised or broken ribs, I was assessed by paramedics at the scene and a helicopter landed at the location an ambulance was present also. Plus half dozen police officers. I was advised to go to hospital but refused because of my personal circumstances. I I signed a release form accepting responsibility for my own well-being and was sent home. My dog had a limp for sometime after the attack.”