Woman killed by pregnant cow after startling it in pen

A woman who was killed by a pregnant cow could have avoided the tragedy by approaching the animal from the side, an inquiry has ruled.

Farmer Patricia Wishart, 62, was working on the croft she ran with her husband on Shetland when she was “pinned down” and struck by the animal.

A fatal accident inquiry into her death in March last year found she startled the cow by entering the pen head-on. In a report published yesterday, Sheriff Philip Mann said her death “might have been avoided” if she had gone in the side door to lessen the risk of startling the animal.