Incident number: 945
Response ID: 306,831,907
Date: 08.09.24
Location: On the Teeside Way going out of Romaldkirk (What 3 words ///faces.crusher.bleaching) OS Grid NY 99699 22533
RW’s story
“Two of us were walking on a public footpath with our dog on a lead. We approached the field and saw just a couple of cows immediately ahead of us. As we walked up the footpath one particular black cow got very excited and charged at us. More cows and calves (which would have stopped us coming into the field) appeared. The situation degenerated and we were forced up against a wall. My wife with one dog just got out in time over a fence into the adjacent field next to a cemetery. I was knocked to the ground and I managed to get up and help my dog over a 6. Ft stone wall. I then managed to scramble over the fence my wife had climbed over.
I think I have probably cracked some ribs. I’ve played 30+ years of rugby and I know what a severe rib injury is. This is probably up there with the worst of them.
We’re not naive walkers and we understand the dangers of cows with calves. (My wife was bought up on a dairy farm and knows livestock) As there was no sign we hold the farmer solely responsible for this. He should be prosecuted in the same way I’d be prosecuted if my dog attacked someone or his/her livestock. Changes should be made such that farmers include this information about calves by law. This path was the Teeside Way!!! Not some sleepy backwater. I’d like incidents like this to be recorded and published.”
Cattle Safety 