A man was killed and his wife left paralysed when they were trampled by a herd of cows as they walked their daughter's dogs on a lunch break, an inquest heard.
Michael Holmes, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene and his wife, Teresa, was airlifted to hospital. They were trampled just 20ft from the end of a footpath as they crossed a field on a public right of way with the two whippets in September, 2020, the inquest was told.
Mr Holmes suffered 35 rib fractures and the sack of his heart was lacerated, a coroner heard. A pathologist ruled the injuries to his chest on their own were not survivable, the jury inquest into his death was told.
Mrs Holmes, who was knocked unconscious in the incident, woke in hospital a week later to be told her husband had died. She then spent six months in hospital as she rehabilitated from her injuries, which included spinal fractures, spinal cord injuries and fractured ribs. The inquest, held at Wakefield Civil and Family Justice Centre, was told Mrs Holmes took medical retirement due to her injuries, which have left her permanently in a wheelchair.
She told the court that she and her husband of 34 years would regularly walk the route during their lunch breaks as they worked from home during lockdown.
She said: "We were both working from home and it became a routine to get out every day for half an hour for a walk. We set off just after 12 with the dogs. Both dogs were used to teach other and we had them both on fixed leads. We were aware that there were sometimes cattle on the field.
"Quite often we would come in the reverse way to the field and we've seen cattle and said we won't go across the field. We'd take a different route. I don't remember the incident, which is a good thing really because what happened must have been horrific. I worked for children's services at Leeds City Council, I loved that job, but after this, I just felt like I couldn't do this job."
The court heard the couple, from Leeds, moved to Netherton on the outskirts of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, in 2016 with the view of their house being their 'retirement home'.
During lockdown the couple would go for walks during lunch breaks. The inquest heard their daughter asked if they could care for her two whippets, Neville and Luna, as a regular dog walker wasn't available. The couple agreed to mind the dogs and took them for a walk through a nearby farmer's field at around noon on September 29, a route Mrs Holmes said they took 'scores of times'.
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.
Mrs Holmes told the court she didn't remember the incident, but was told later the dogs had escaped the stampede and ran off. They were found by a neighbour, with their fixed leads on, who raised the alarm. The court heard an air ambulance was despatched the scene, but nothing could be done to save Mr Holmes.
Speaking of her husband, Mrs Holmes added: "He was a family man, he loved his family. His family meant everything to him. He had a very dry sense of humour and I do miss that. He had his own unique wit."
The inquest heard the Health and Safety Executive had dealt with nine deaths cow stampedes in five years, but 2020 saw a 'small spike'.
The death of Mr Holmes was the third fatal cow trampling in a month. Deputy headteacher David Clark died after being trampled by cattle in a field north of Richmond, North Yorkshire, just days earlier. Malcolm Flynn, 72, was fatally injured when he was charged by cows on land near Thirlwall Castle and Gisland, Northumberland.
The inquest continues.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
- 'I don't know what to say': Lying paedophile dumbfounded after police show him indisputable evidence of his vile crimes
- 'I risked everything on my dream. Covid and Putin have turned it to a nightmare'
- 'Be under no illusions about how close you have come to prison today': Greater Manchester criminals who avoided jail by a whisker
- 'Dad left, mum turned to drink, we were torn apart - all because of a serial rapist who must never be set free'
- Kym Marsh 'screamed at' during meal at Manchester diner with Corrie pal and husband Scott
