Cow Attack leaves a 75 year old fearing for his life 

A 75-year-old man feared for his life after cows attacked him in Cornwall. He was walking his dog on a public footpath.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the responsible farmer.

A Narrow Escape 

Initially, Brian Gregory, walked his Labrador, Molly. Suddenly, a herd of cattle with young calves charged. Mr Gregory released the lead to protect himself.

Despite this, the cattle still trampled and butted him. They then chased his dog. Passing walkers helped Mr Gregory return to his caravan. His partner saw his injuries, and called an ambulance immediately.

As a result, he spent five days in hospital. The attack severed an artery, and left deep gashes. He required urgent surgery to recover.

Failure to Manage Risks

Farmer Beverley Chapman heard about the attack that same day. However, She did not remove the herd. Instead, She actually added more cattle and calves to the field.

One month later a second attack occurred. Two local residents fled into gorse bushes to escape the herd.  Their dog suffered serious injuries and needed surgery.

Despite these warnings, Mrs Chapman ignored the second incident. She only moved the cattle four days later. Eventually, a council officer finally forced her to act.

The HSE Findings

Furthermore, the HSE investigation found that cattle were protective and unpredictable. Mrs Chapman kept them in a field with public access.  She had other enclosed fields without footpaths available. She chose not to use them.

Guidance for Farmers 

Tip: Farmers must follow HSE guidance to protect the public : ‘Cattle and public access in England and Wales’.

Consider these vital safety controls:

• Avoid keeping Cows with Calves cows with calves, in fields with public access.
• keep animals and people separate, using fences.
• Assess cattle temperament before grazing them near people.
• Never keep aggressive animals near public paths.
• Display clear signs at all field entrances.

The Legal Penalty

Because of these failures, Beverley Chapman pleaded guilty to safety breaches. On 16 December 2025 a Court ordered her to pay £11,910.

HSE inspector Simon Jones spoke after the hearing. “Cattle protect their calves fiercely,” he warned “even calm cattle become aggressive if they are threatened.”

“Given the nature of the cattle attack, it is fortunate that the injuries sustained by Mr Gregory weren’t fatal. On this occasion, Mr Gregory took all the right precautions while out walking.

He also noted that Mr Gregory’s injuries could have been fatal. Ultimately, Mrs Chapman failed to act even after two attacks.“

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