‘I could have been killed’ - walker attacked

[llamedos]

A walker who said he was almost killed when cattle attacked has called for dangerous livestock to be moved away from public rights of way.

Cattle close to the Weavers Way public path. Picture by Stephen De'ath.
Stephen De’ath, of Fleggburgh, was walking on the Weaver’s Way path, between Halvergate and Berney Arms, when he came face to face with a herd of cows.

Protecting their calves, the cattle surrounded the 54-year-old before one of them attacked and knocked him to the ground.

Mr De’ath, who works in the offshore industry in Great Yarmouth, was left in severe pain with injuries to his back and shoulder and was forced to take time off work.

“I could easily have been killed,” he said, adding that he was now reluctant to walk the path again.

“On entering the field I saw the cows and attempted to go round them but they came towards me and surrounded me.

“I decided to start backing away towards the gate, but one had come behind me and butted me in the back with severe force knocking me, face first, to the ground.

“I was among the feet of the cows. I managed to get to my feet and the cows stood their ground but, thank God, didn’t trample me or attack further.

“I managed to keep calm, made myself big by holding my arms out and slowly backed away.”

Weaver’s Way is a 56-mile long rural trail running from Cromer to Yarmouth. It crosses dozens of fields and farmland where animals graze.

After he was fit enough to return to work, Mr De’ath contacted Norfolk County Council to voice his concerns.

“I do not want someone else to suffer as I have or quite easily a fatality on my conscience,” he said.

“The HSE website shows that the farmer has a duty of care to protect people should animals be known to be dangerous. In this case these animals should be removed from a public right of way without delay.”

A spokesman for the county council declined to comment on Stephen’s incident, but confirmed there were rules in place to keep people safe on public rights of way.

The council website states: “If any animal, which is known to be dangerous by the keeper of the animal, causes injury to a member of the public using a Public Right of Way, an offence may be committed and the occupier could be sued by the injured party.”

It is illegal to keep a bull over 10 months old on its own in a field that is crossed by public rights of way, but bulls can be kept with cows or heifers.

Walkers also have responsibilties; they are told to follow any signs, leave gates and property as they find them, protect plants and animals and take litter home, and to always keep dogs under control.

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news...ttacked_by_cattle_near_weaver_s_way_1_3811771


worth reading the comments in the link

 

[Badshot]

Are you having a laugh? Mr De'ath nearly killed by cows?

 

[llamedos]

I wish we had a hand clap smiley that worked, I was counting down from 10 as to who would be quickest to post

 

[llamedos]

ps I had my £5 on @roscoe erf

 

[Badshot]

I wish we had a hand clap smiley that worked, I was counting down from 10 as to who would be quickest to post

Damn I was drawn in by your cunning plan,

 

[roscoe erf]

well

 

[roscoe erf]

ps I had my £5 on @roscoe erf

its a gold mine of puns and quips but i have ebola so not as fast as i was

 

[DrDunc]

What happens when someone takes a walk through the wrong deprived inner city area and gets mugged and beaten?

Is there a call for the herds of unemployed to be culled?

The mugging victim didn't know the dangers of where they were, they didn't know how to act in the unfamiliar surroundings.

Time for a call to end ramblers causing stress and danger to young calves and their mothers.

 

[Kevtherev]

There used to be a tax inspector in this area called mr death

 

[Grassman]

Used to be a dentist when I was a lad. He had a bit of a reputation!
His surgery was known as "Donaldsons Death House"
Sorry nothing to do with the thread but it just reminded me!

 

[exmoor dave]

There used to be a tax inspector in this area called mr death

my sisters fiancée is called P Death!!!

my sister is seriously worried whether to take his name or not, she did say she'd compromise if he changed it to "De'ath" but he won't do it!

 

[exmoor dave]

A walker who said he was almost killed when cattle attacked has called for dangerous livestock to be moved away from public rights of way.




View attachment 74317Cattle close to the Weavers Way public path. Picture by Stephen De'ath.
Stephen De’ath, of Fleggburgh, was walking on the Weaver’s Way path, between Halvergate and Berney Arms, when he came face to face with a herd of cows.

Protecting their calves, the cattle surrounded the 54-year-old before one of them attacked and knocked him to the ground.

Mr De’ath, who works in the offshore industry in Great Yarmouth, was left in severe pain with injuries to his back and shoulder and was forced to take time off work.

“I could easily have been killed,” he said, adding that he was now reluctant to walk the path again.

“On entering the field I saw the cows and attempted to go round them but they came towards me and surrounded me.

“I decided to start backing away towards the gate, but one had come behind me and butted me in the back with severe force knocking me, face first, to the ground.

“I was among the feet of the cows. I managed to get to my feet and the cows stood their ground but, thank God, didn’t trample me or attack further.

“I managed to keep calm, made myself big by holding my arms out and slowly backed away.”

Weaver’s Way is a 56-mile long rural trail running from Cromer to Yarmouth. It crosses dozens of fields and farmland where animals graze.

After he was fit enough to return to work, Mr De’ath contacted Norfolk County Council to voice his concerns.

“I do not want someone else to suffer as I have or quite easily a fatality on my conscience,” he said.

“The HSE website shows that the farmer has a duty of care to protect people should animals be known to be dangerous. In this case these animals should be removed from a public right of way without delay.”

A spokesman for the county council declined to comment on Stephen’s incident, but confirmed there were rules in place to keep people safe on public rights of way.

The council website states: “If any animal, which is known to be dangerous by the keeper of the animal, causes injury to a member of the public using a Public Right of Way, an offence may be committed and the occupier could be sued by the injured party.”

It is illegal to keep a bull over 10 months old on its own in a field that is crossed by public rights of way, but bulls can be kept with cows or heifers.

Walkers also have responsibilties; they are told to follow any signs, leave gates and property as they find them, protect plants and animals and take litter home, and to always keep dogs under control.

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news...ttacked_by_cattle_near_weaver_s_way_1_3811771


worth reading the comments in the link

so did he have a dog by any chance? most likely on a lead? and probably tried to walk through the cattle!!

 

[roscoe erf]

my sisters fiancée is called P Death!!!

my sister is seriously worried whether to take his name or not, she did say she'd compromise if he changed it to "De'ath" but he won't do it!

get him to change it to darth

 

[grumpy]

What happens when someone takes a walk through the wrong deprived inner city area and gets mugged and beaten?

Is there a call for the herds of unemployed to be culled?

The mugging victim didn't know the dangers of where they were, they didn't know how to act in the unfamiliar surroundings.

Time for a call to end ramblers causing stress and danger to young calves and their mothers.

you mean large areas of England are no go areas for white folks?

 

[DrDunc]

you mean large areas of England are no go areas for white folks?

Is it only the white folks that get chased by cows?

 

[roscoe erf]

Is it only the white folks that get chased by cows?

yes bloody cows are racists

 

[Henarar]

Is it only the white folks that get chased by cows?

Depends what colour the cows are

 

[grumpy]

Is it only the white folks that get chased by cows?

to be honest and shoot me down in flames i have never seen a black fella picking cabbages in the the rain?but was there no the black fermer or summit?

 

[grumpy]

Depends what colour the cows are

angus hates the lims as the cannucks took the pish?

 

[Welsh Farmer]

There have been two people killed by cows fairly close to us in 2001 and 2009 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-14755592

Years ago in the late 1970's I was bringing the cows out of the field and down the road for milking, a usual afternoon, nothing out of the ordinary ... but as the cows ambled through the gate and turned left towards the yard one of the cows spotted a walker who was stopped, waiting patiently and doing nothing wrong .... blasted cow suddenly turned right for no reason and charged the walker and knocked him to the ground. To say I was shocked was an understatement .... all the cows were quiet and nothing like this had EVER happened before. Thank goodness this was pre-compensation-madness-days and so we didn't hear any more about it after dusting this chap down and apologising profusely. I have no explanation for the cows sudden change of behaviour because the walker was doing absolutely nothing wrong or drawing attention to himself. This was the only time something liked this ever happened .... but there again it only takes one incident. I still go all cold even thinking about it