Loose dog spooks cow leading to woman being trampled

Jean Coupland, from Grindleton, is currently receiving treatment at Preston Hospital after a cow on a farm near Clitheroe, knocked her over and trampled her. 

The 74-year-old has a broken pelvis and doctors said she might lose her leg as a result of her injuries.

While she was too unwell to speak to the Lancashire Telegraph, her husband David Coupland described what happened and has issued a stark warning to dog walkers.

The day before the accident, one of the farm’s cows had given birth to a calf.

During this time, the animals can become aggressive and territorial as they try to protect their young.

David, 83, said: “There was a stray dog in the field that was upsetting our animals.

“Jean looked up and spotted another three dogs off their lead in the field.

“She walked up to the woman walking the dogs to tell her to get out of the field and that she was in danger."

Before she knew it the cow had turned on Jean and began to trample her.

David said: “Jean didn’t see it coming and the cow just rammed into her back and knocked her to the floor.

“It then must have trampled her because she is black and blue.

“They just want to look after their calves and there have been plenty of people killed by cows each year.”

When the family did manage to get in touch with Jean, David said she was lying on the floor, lifeless.

David said: “We didn’t have a clue where she was as she had switched her phone off because the cow was stood right beside her.

“When we eventually got to her it looked like she was dead. She wasn’t moving at all.

“We put the car between her and the cow so it wouldn’t charge at her again.

“She tried to stand up but she just couldn’t. She went white and looked faint.”

She was taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary before later being transferred to Royal Preston Hospital.

Here, doctors said the cow had broken her pelvis and cause serious damage to her leg.

David said: “Luckily, it hadn’t damaged her back but they found she had a broken pelvis and that she had a damaged artery in her leg.

“She was panic-stricken and asked the doctor if she would lose her leg and they couldn’t make any promises.

“The doctors said we are lucky to still have her and that if the cow had stamped on her stomach instead of her pelvis she could have died.

“It will be a while before she makes a recovery I don’t think she will be out for a few weeks yet.”

David has issued a warning to dog walkers, urging them to keep their animals on the lead around farm animals and to stick to public footpaths.

He said: “People should respect the law and it is scandalous that this has happened.

“This was all because some idiot was in a field with four dogs who were completely out of control.

“They were off their lead and a good half a mile from their owner, who wasn’t on a public footpath.

“Just get your dogs on the lead around farm animals.”

Jean’s sister, Sally Coates, also issued a warning to dog owners in a public Facebook group.

She said: “All of this happened because people think they can do just what they like in the countryside.

“I hope this makes people realise that farming is dangerous and there are ways to behave around farm animals.

“Please keep to the footpaths and have your dogs on leads around farm animals.”

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph she said: “From my point of view the law needs changing.

“Stricter laws need to cone in place so that access to the countryside is limited to footpaths and parks.

“People don’t realise that they could be in danger and what's worse don’t care what damage they do.

“Contrary to popular opinion farmers do care about their animals and take pride in giving them the care and attention they need.”

The Countryside Code states: "On Open Access land and at the coast, you must put your dog on a lead around livestock."

The maximum fine for a dog owner who fails to comply is up to £1,000. Farmers can also shoot dogs they believe are worrying livestock on their land.