Man trampled to death by cows as he took dogs for walk

A HERD of cows trampled a father to death and paralysed his wife while they walked their daughter’s two whippets on their lunch break, an inquest heard.

Michael Holmes, a 57-year-old telecoms worker from Netherton, West Yorks, suffered 35 rib fractures and lacerations to his heart. His widow, Teresa, who was knocked unconscious, suffered spinal fractures, spinal cord injuries and fractured ribs, leaving her confined to a wheelchair and forced to take early retirement.

The couple were trampled just 20ft from the end of a public footpath in September 2020, a jury inquest into Mr Holmes’ death heard.

Mrs Holmes, who worked for children’s services at Leeds city council, told the court they would regularly walk the route in their lunch breaks as they worked from home during lockdown. “We were aware that there were sometimes cattle on the field,” she said. “I don’t remember the incident, which is a good thing really because what happened must have been horrific.”

She said because there were signs urging dog walkers to keep their animals on a lead, the couple thought it would be safe to take the dogs through the field. But as they approached the end of the footpath – which is in the middle of the field – they were attacked by the cattle.

Footage from a nearby CCTV camera, shown to the jury, captured the moment the cows “accelerated” towards the couple. The dogs, which had escaped the stampede and ran off, were found with their fixed leads on by a neighbour, who raised the alarm.

Speaking of her husband, Mrs Holmes said: “He was a family man. His family meant everything to him.”