A man spent more than an hour trapped in a tree after an angry mother cow charged at him while he was walking his dog on Thursday (February 5) on the Isle of Wight.
The incident occurred when the man was walking his dog along a public footpath near Whiteley Bank and encountered a calf that had escaped from its field. The protective mother cow reportedly “ran through a fence” toward the man, forcing him to climb the nearest tree for safety, according to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS).
Emergency control room operators kept the frightened man calm throughout his ordeal while fire crews from Shanklin and Newport were dispatched to the scene, arriving around 9:30 a.m. Firefighters found the agitated cow standing guard at the base of the tree where the man had taken refuge.
“Animals we come across regularly in our countryside, such as cows and horses, have strong maternal instincts to protect their young, so it is vital to keep your distance,” HIWFRS said in a statement.
The rescue operation involved the cow’s owner, who helped coax both the mother cow and her calf back into their field. Only then could the man safely climb down from the tree and be reunited with his dog. Fire crews left the scene around 11:00 a.m., approximately 90 minutes after their arrival.
This incident highlights the potential dangers of encountering livestock in rural areas. According to the Health and Safety Executive, four to five people are killed in accidents involving cattle each year in the UK. While most victims are farm workers, about a quarter are members of the public walking on footpaths or commonly used rights of way.
The fire service advises countryside walkers to maintain distance from livestock, keep dogs on leads, remain calm if threatened by an animal, and find a safe place if necessary.
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