A HANDYMAN has told of his terrifying ordeal after being attacked by a herd of cows when out walking his dog at the weekend.
Simon Dark, 39, was airlifted to hospital after the incident, which left him with a head injury, a fractured collarbone, stitches to his ear and severe bruising.
A pensioner who came to his rescue was also hospitalised after he suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung in the attack.
Mr Dark, a painter and decorator from Poston Way, Winsley, was walking his nine-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier Bunty through a field near the canal between Turleigh and Avoncliff on Friday at about 6pm when the drama unfolded.
He said: "We were near the exit to the field when the cows all bunched around and started kicking the dog.
"They turned her upside down and stamped on her stomach and she ran off.
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"Then they charged me from behind, knocked me to the ground and stamped on me."
Mr Dark, who is also commodore of Bradford on Avon Rowing Club, thinks that about 10-12 cows set upon him although there were 50 in the field at the time.
Retired civil engineer Bleddyn Griffith, 63, who lives next to the field, came to his rescue, shooing the cows away with a broom.
He said: "My wife saw it in the field about 20 yards away - there was a great melee of cows making a hell of a noise and a body underneath them.
"I stupidly thought I could wave them away with the broom but they weren't going to go away, they were out of control. I have never seen cattle like it, it looked as though they wanted to kill him."
One of the cows knocked Mr Griffith over and he was also trampled before Mr Dark could get up and shout to move them away.
Mr Griffith's wife had to go inside their house to call the ambulance as there was so much noise from the cows she could not hear properly.
After being airlifted to the Royal United Hospital in Bath Mr Dark stayed there overnight and Mr Griffith was taken there by road ambulance and remained there until Sunday.
Mr Dark said: "I have walked through the field numerous times and never had this problem before. I thought my time had come, if (Mr Griffith) hadn't come out to take the pressure off I don't know what would have happened."
Mr Griffith added: "We have lived here for 30 years and I have never seen anything like it, it was very nasty for a while." He said the cows had only been in the field for a couple of weeks and some had six-month-old calves.
He believed the cows had been disturbed by previous walkers whose dogs were out of control, and unfortunately Mr Dark had paid the price for their actions.
Mr Dark is taking legal action against the farmer, Brian Godwin, of Timothy Rise Farm in Winsley Hill, as he cannot work.
Mr Godwin was contacted by the Wiltshire Times but was unavailable for comment.
Posted by: AndrewLye, Pembrokeshire on 2:40pm Fri 25 Apr 08
I'm glad the Bunty the dog is OK, judging by the picture.
The news report omits to mention how the dog was after being trampled on.
Usually farmers threaten us if our dogs are out of control (and possibly, even shoot them!).
A reversal here, of cows not being under control! However, the cows were on the farmers own land and Mr Dark was using the public footpath over the land and you always have to be careful. Mr Dark is lucky Mr Griffiths was there to help him and the poor guy is injured, as well.
I'm glad the Bunty the dog is OK, judging by the picture.
The news report omits to mention how the dog was after being trampled on.
Usually farmers threaten us if our dogs are out of control (and possibly, even shoot them!).
A reversal here, of cows not being under control! However, the cows were on the farmers own land and Mr Dark was using the public footpath over the land and you always have to be careful. Mr Dark is lucky Mr Griffiths was there to help him and the poor guy is injured, as well.
Posted by: welderman, trowbridge on 3:35pm Fri 25 Apr 08
The cow's were only protecting their calves.i used to work on a farm & know you do not mess with cows who have their calves with them.i & everyone else working there have had to jump in the brook at some time to escape a protective mother.as for suing the farmer??!!!if someone threatened your kids would you turn away? NO, i don't think so!!! should know better!!!!
The cow's were only protecting their calves.i used to work on a farm & know you do not mess with cows who have their calves with them.i & everyone else working there have had to jump in the brook at some time to escape a protective mother.as for suing the farmer??!!!if someone threatened your kids would you turn away? NO, i don't think so!!! should know better!!!!
[quote][bold]welderman[/bold] wrote:
The cow's were only protecting their calves.i used to work on a farm & know you do not mess with cows who have their calves with them.i & everyone else working there have had to jump in the brook at some time to escape a protective mother.as for suing the farmer??!!!if someone threatened your kids would you turn away? NO, i don't think so!!! should know better!!!![/quote] If the farmers know cows can be protective of young calves, why did he then put them in a field with a public footpath where the public will be walking???
welderman wrote:
The cow's were only protecting their calves.i used to work on a farm & know you do not mess with cows who have their calves with them.i & everyone else working there have had to jump in the brook at some time to escape a protective mother.as for suing the farmer??!!!if someone threatened your kids would you turn away? NO, i don't think so!!! should know better!!!!
If the farmers know cows can be protective of young calves, why did he then put them in a field with a public footpath where the public will be walking???
A long time ago a little Staffie called Desmond was walked through a field full of cows - apparently he got 'upset' and was taken back to the dogs home, but that wasn't the story they were told. Do you remember him too Mr Dark?
A long time ago a little Staffie called Desmond was walked through a field full of cows - apparently he got 'upset' and was taken back to the dogs home, but that wasn't the story they were told. Do you remember him too Mr Dark?
Posted by: Necker, Trowbridge on 9:22pm Fri 25 Apr 08
He should have walked in the udder field. After baing trampled I bet he does not find it amoosing anymore. I think the stories been hyped up the majority of it is bull. If he sues the farmer the solicitors will chew the cud for days and rake in a fortune and for what!
You need to understand the psycowlogy of farm animals before entering their domain.
etc etc :)
He should have walked in the udder field. After baing trampled I bet he does not find it amoosing anymore. I think the stories been hyped up the majority of it is bull. If he sues the farmer the solicitors will chew the cud for days and rake in a fortune and for what!
You need to understand the psycowlogy of farm animals before entering their domain.
etc etc :)
Posted by: Necker, Trowbridge on 9:23pm Fri 25 Apr 08
He should have walked in the udder field. After baing trampled I bet he does not find it amoosing anymore. I think the stories been hyped up the majority of it is bull. If he sues the farmer the solicitors will chew the cud for days and rake in a fortune and for what!
You need to understand the psycowlogy of farm animals before entering their domain.
etc etc :)
He should have walked in the udder field. After baing trampled I bet he does not find it amoosing anymore. I think the stories been hyped up the majority of it is bull. If he sues the farmer the solicitors will chew the cud for days and rake in a fortune and for what!
You need to understand the psycowlogy of farm animals before entering their domain.
etc etc :)
I heard it was a cold day and he had a bright red jacket on. That may have upset the cows, but I also heard he needed the coat as it was friesian.
I agree with T.Wiltshire though. If the cows can be protective he was dumb to put them in a field with a footpath that we all have a right to walk on. They attacked and he will have insurance to pay the price. Bet he won't do that again if he gets a large bill...
I heard it was a cold day and he had a bright red jacket on. That may have upset the cows, but I also heard he needed the coat as it was friesian.
I agree with T.Wiltshire though. If the cows can be protective he was dumb to put them in a field with a footpath that we all have a right to walk on. They attacked and he will have insurance to pay the price. Bet he won't do that again if he gets a large bill...
[quote][bold]Wiltshire Resident[/bold] wrote:
Thinking up more cow jokes takes a lot of heffer-t[/quote] bad joke police have arrived... mooove along.... nothing to see here...
Wiltshire Resident wrote:
Thinking up more cow jokes takes a lot of heffer-t
bad joke police have arrived... mooove along.... nothing to see here...
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