Gun police called in as walker is stamped on by cows

ANIMALS ‘PROTECTIVE OF CALVES’

ARMED police were called to deal with stampeding cows after a walker was seriously injured.

A woman, believed to be in her mid50s, suffered major trauma to her upper arm and shoulder during the ‘stampede’ at Smithy Bridge in Littleborough on Sunday morning.

A witness claims she was ‘stamped on and attacked’ at a popular walking spot known as The Bonk and ‘would have been killed’ if it wasn’t for other walkers who managed to ‘keep them off.’

It is believed the cows were being protective of their calves. Police sent officers and marksmen to the incident off Clegg Hall Road, near the Rochdale Canal, ‘as a precaution.’ None of the livestock was shot.

The casualty was taken by air ambulance to Royal Preston Hospital.

The witness, who did not want to be named, said: “The local area known as The Bonk is a popular walk but at present the cows have all got calves and she was stamped on and attacked. If not for the actions of local people out walking she would have been killed. Armed police at the scene of the incident in Littleborough

“The people who assisted her were also under threat from the animals but they managed to keep them off her until emergency services and police attended.”

A spokesman for the North West Air Ambulance said: “At 9.33am NWAT received reports of a woman attacked by cows. The casualty, a female believed to be in her mid-50s, was taken by air ambulance with significant injuries to her shoulder and upper arm. It was treated as a major trauma and she was taken to Royal Preston Hospital.”

A spokesman for GMP said: “The woman had been injured by the cattle and was taken to hospital. Nothing happened to the cattle involved.

The armed officers were there as a precaution so that if the cattle returned and attempted to attack the woman or any of the people responding to the incident then they may have had to ‘take action.’”

The Ramblers Association offers safety advice for walking near livestock.

It says walkers should watch how they are behaving and try to avoid getting between cows and their calves.

It also advises people move quickly and quietly, and if possible walk around the herd.