I ended up with 6 broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and a 7cm deep tear to my liver.
On the 9th May, 2022, we were walking on a public footpath across a field in West Burton, in the Yorkshire Dales. The footpath provides direct access into the village from a B road and from other public rights of way over adjoining fields.
Continue reading “Martin and Margaret: trampled by cows”By the time we saw the calf… it was too late.
On the 22nd August, 2019, I was walking with my husband on a popular public footpath near Belper, Derbyshire. There were no warning signs at the entrance to the field, but we saw there were Aberdeen Angus cows in the field. We knew that a lot of people walk through here, so we felt safe. Continue reading “RR’s story: fractured ribs and shattered pelvis.”
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 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.
First reported death this year of a walker killed by cattle in the UK
[We are sad to report the first death this year of a walker killed by cattle in the UK.]
On the 30th May, a couple of elderly walkers were strolling through a field near Ingleborough, when they were attacked by a herd of cows. Tragically, the man died of his injuries. The woman was severely bruised, but survived.
According to the outdoors magazine ‘Grough‘, the walkers had two small terriers with them. According to other reports, the cows had calves which they may have been protecting. Read the BBC news report of the incident, which was also reported in the Yorkshire Evening Post.
While hundreds of people are dying every day from this horrible Covid-19 virus, it is easy to forget that the peaceful fields of England can contain hidden dangers too.
As the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions begin to ease, we urge people to be careful, and continue to report cattle attacks to us.
You can read some of our advice for walkers here.
Header photo by Gary Butterfield on Unsplash
Serious injuries and no laughing matter.
A few weeks ago, Della White and her husband Michael were walking their dogs near their home in the New Forest.
“We saw a white cow with horns and her calf,” her husband told reporters. “I called our two sheepdogs close and my wife put our other dog on a lead. Suddenly I heard my wife shout behind me.” Continue reading “New Forest: cow tramples woman”
My injuries were severe. All my ribs were fractured and I had a punctured lung.
I was a fit and active 68 year old, a keen walker and solo caravanner, walking twice a week with the U3A. Then I met a cow, and my life changed… Continue reading “Featured story – Brenda’s tale”
I know I was LUCKY, because I would have died if the dog had not slipped her lead.
In May, 2010, I was out on a routine country walk in the Yorkshire Dales, with my wife and our young dog. We noticed the dog’s collar was becoming a little tight, so we loosened it a notch. Continue reading “Hugh’s story: trampled by the herd”
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.
“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”
