Tag: Lancashire

Walker trampled in Rishton, Lancashire

Report: 1172

Date: 30/7/25

Location: It took place on the Public Right of Way, continuous with Cut Lane in Rishton, Lancashire. What3words: retail.face.holly

1 person 1 dog

Report: “I was walking my dog on a lead on the public right of way approaching the bridge which leads past Cut Lane Farm. I was aware that there were cows with calves in the field, close to the track which is the public right of way. I heeled my dog close to me on my left hand side, away from the cattle. Suddenly, a group of cows turned towards us and charged. I was headbutted, thrown to the ground and was then trampled by several cows. I was screaming for my life and believed that I was going to die. I have sustained severe bruises to my legs, arms, chest and foot, and have received medical care for a suspected broken rib. Fortunately, my dog managed to escape across the cattle grid and seems unscathed.”

“I have severe bruising to my legs, arms, foot and chest. I am keen walker and runner, but now I am now frightened of walking/running in the countryside. I was treated in A&E, probable fractured rib.”

“There was a warning sign saying “Bull in field” and a sign saying “No dogs allowed on farmland” or something to that effect.”

“I have reported this attack to the police and HSE.”

“I would like to see cows, especially those known to pose a threat and those with calves, cordoned off from public rights of way.“

Lancashire cattle cause significant injuries

Case No. 1155

Date of Incident 16 06 2025

Location On PROW Higham, Lancashire

1 walker, 1 dog on lead

Cows with calves, heifers and bullocks – brown

Account “I was suddenly surrounded and tried to pull the dog in but then it all kicked off. I don’t remember everything but was I knocked onto the ground and eventually let go of the lead when I realised I was in real trouble. I remember being butted while on the ground but don’t actually remember how I get away. I had 3 broken ribs, facial injuries, leg injuries and was kept in hospital for 1 week.”

Respondent also states “Don’t put crazy cows in open access areas.”

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””

SL Story: a mad scramble

One of us is still suffering from an injured back.

On the 31st July, 2022, we were walking along a public footpath, leaving Slaidburn on the approach to Panes Farm, in Lancashire. We were walking on the public path with our dog on a lead, and were about 200 metres away from the field gate. Half way across the field we could see a group of cows near the gate and lying down.

Read more: SL Story: a mad scramble

Without warning, the cattle got up and started to charge towards us. It was then we noticed there were calves in the herd. We scrambled over a gate to get out of the way – which included having to throw the dog over the gate as best we could. My husband slowed their approach by making himself large and shouting at them, but they were still in charge mode – with one being particularly aggressive.

It took us at least 30 minutes of scrambling over drystone walls and gates to reach an alternative footpath. We escaped with only minor injuries, but one of us is still suffering from an injured back caused by scrambling over walls and gates.

In our experience, when entering a field because of the lay of the land it is often too late to realise cows are in the field.

In this case, there were no warning signs. We were lucky there was no barbed wire to scale over which would have made an escape very treacherous.

Farmers should not be allowed to have cows in fields that have a public right of way running through, especially with calves.

Response ID 266187259

Photo from site stock

Gemma’s Story: a stand-off with an aggressive cow.

I was petrified – the cow was about to charge me.

On the 3rd of September, 2020, my sister and I were walking along a footpath up to the summit of Nicky Nook Fell, near Skorton, in Lancashire. We were heading from east to west and had my twelve-week old puppy on a lead with us.

Continue reading “Gemma’s Story: a stand-off with an aggressive cow.”