Farmer and dog walker killed in separate cattle-related incidents
© Tim Scrivener A farmer has died after being trampled by cows with calves and a man has been killed by cows with calves after encountering them on a footpath.
The self-employed farmer was killed in Herefordshire on 28 September and, in a separate fatal incident, two members of the public, walking with dogs in a field, were attacked by cattle with calves on 29 September in West Yorkshire, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.
A man was pronounced dead at the scene, while a woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries following the incident in Wakefield, West Yorkshire Police confirmed.
See also: Tributes paid to popular teacher killed by cows
It follows the death of deputy headteacher David Clark, who was trampled by cows in a field near Richmond, North Yorkshire, on 21 September.
On 11 September, Malcolm Flynn was killed by cows in Northumberland.
The 72-year-old was walking with a friend on land near Thirlwall Castle when the cows charged him.
Advice for farmers
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued advice for farmers when handling livestock:
- Select and use well-designed handling facilities, in the yard, buildings and field. Keep them maintained.
- Be extremely cautious when entering a cattle enclosure and always have an escape route.
- Remove aggressive animals from the herd.
- Wherever possible, separate livestock from the public and select fields without rights of way when cattle have calves at foot.
The HSE advised members of the public walking with dogs near cattle to let the dog go if they are threatened by the livestock, and to try to avoid getting between cows and calves.