Cow trample victim sues for £1m

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A woman who needed brain surgery after being trampled by a herd of cows has launched a £1m compensation bid.

Shirley McKaskie was crossing a field at Greystoke, near Penrith in Cumbria, in 2003, when the herd attacked.

The 49-year-old, who had recently moved to the village, is suing local farmer John Cameron, owner of Greyrigg Farm.

The cows, which had calves with them, may have been scared by her pet dog, Preston County Court heard on the first day of the civil claim hearing.

Cows with calves at foot can be unpredictable and give rise to risk to any members of the public crossing a field Christopher Purchas QC

On 10 May 2003, Ms McKaskie was with her Jack Russell terrier on her way to meet her partner at a pub in the village.

She used a public footpath to cut across a field at the hamlet of Greystoke Gill.

Ms McKaskie managed to get her dog over a stile but was "tossed around" by the herd of 40 Simmental-cross cows, each weighing about half a tonne.

She was found unconscious by Mr Cameron, who took her to his farmhouse before she was rushed to hospital to undergo brain surgery.

A Health and Safety Executive investigation following the incident decided to take no action against the farmer.

Warning sign

Christopher Purchas QC, acting for Ms McKaskie, told the court: "Cows with calves at foot can be unpredictable and give rise to risk to any members of the public crossing a field.

"The first thing to do is to put up a notice to inform members of the public that that is the situation."

The court also heard Ms McKaskie walked off the public footpath, but it is not clear how far off the path she got.

She said she did not expect dangerous animals to be near a public footpath, and would not have entered the field if there had been a warning sign.

The case continues.