Tag: West Sussex

Normal route, same cows – this time was dangerous

Report Number: 1315
Date: 29/09/26
Location: South Mundham at the bottom of Fisher Lane, West Sussex
Group of black and white cattle, single walker with dog on lead


Alice’s Report: “As I was walking on the path towards the exit of the field the cows were a fair distance from me. I have walked this route many times and not had a problem but this particular day there was one cow that jumped up and as he landed back on the ground it gave the other cows the get go to all start charging towards me and the dog. I tried to get away but the way the cows were scattered they had surrounded me from all angles and were all charging at me so quickly I was trapped. A few were jumping as they got closer and the only thing I could do to save myself was to throw myself into a big thorn bush that was behind me and I buried myself as far as I could with the dog. I was trapped there and the cows were pushing their heads into the bush and wouldn’t leave me or the dog alone. I was absolutely terrified because if I hadn’t got into the bush I could have been trampled to death. I was completely trapped in the thorns, it was very painful and was in there sometime before help arrived. My brother eventually arrived in the car and drove it into the field and managed to drive up to the cows revving the engine to slowly get them to back off so I could safely get into the car and home. This whole experience I found very traumatic and will never walk into a field of cows again.”
Alice comments: “I feel very strongly that nobody should enter a field of cattle . After this incident I genuinely felt I was going to die and the absolute terror that came over me in a matter of seconds . Until this happened I just did not grasp how badly things can go and how quickly.”

Anthony is savagely attacked by cattle

Report number: 1128
Date of the attack: 4/5/25
Location: Public footpath leading to Nuthurst Village, near Horsham, West Sussex ///cucumber.rectangular.explorer
3/5 people and a dog on a lead

Anthony’s report: The public footpath cut through the middle of the field that had a herd of cows and calves. I have walked this field many times and told my friend and 7 year old son that we should be careful not separate the cows from their calves. The cows then moved away from us leaving the path clear for us to walk through. But they then circled behind us and started to approach aggressively. This spooked my dog who remained on the lead and the cows then charged and trampled me and continued a sustained attack. Every time I tried to get up they knocked me down. One cow in particular then led the ongoing attack using its hooves, head and horns. Holding onto its horns bought me some time until my friend was able to rescue my 7 year old son who was thankfully uninjured and then return to yell at the cows to distract them. This made them back off and I was able to get up and limp to the fence and climb over and call the emergency services who sent a helicopter and ambulance.”

“I have multiple broken ribs. Stitches to a large open wound on my leg. A large haematoma on the side of my head. I spent 5 days in the trauma unit of Brighton Hospital.”


“I have reported this to the local school and vet to help raise awareness.”

“I have much sympathy for farmers but I think that cows with calves should not be allowed on fields with unprotected public footpaths.“