ianstone
07-26-2010, 12:43 PM
Aggressive mountain cows threaten British holidaymakers in France after rambler is gorged and trampled on
By Peter Allen (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Peter+Allen)
Last updated at 1:03 PM on 26th July 2010
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http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/07/26/article-1297737-0A92E0EE000005DC-163_233x253.jpg Mountain cows have been behind two attacks in the Pyrenees
A German rambler is in a critical condition in hospital today after being gorged and trampled on by a herd of mountain cows in front of her husband and two children.
In the latest of a series of ferocious attacks by the animals, the woman was bit and stamped on until she was knocked unconscious and had to be airlifted by emergency services.
It has prompted officials to warn British visitors to the Pyrenees to be on their guard.
Speaking about Friday's attack, a spokesman for the mountain police said: ‘She could easily have been killed.
‘The cows, who had some young calves with them, knew exactly what they were doing as they attacked her.
‘They bit and trampled her until she fell unconscious. Her husband managed to get away and call the emergency services who arrived by helicopter.
‘The woman was unconscious by the time she was evacuated out of the area, and was in a critical condition in hospital with wounds all over her body. H
'Her family were deeply traumatised by what they saw.’
Last Tuesday, in a separate incident on the same mountain, another rambler was set upon by the cows.
The 50-year-old was gorged by a particularly ferocious elderly animal who left him with wounds to the back of the head, the face and arms and legs.
‘The man was airlifted to hospital in Perpignan where he was in a very bad way,’ a police spokesman said.
‘He was suffering from very serious head injuries and trauma. The cow that caused the worst damage was an old one at the end of her life.’
Gerard Martinez, who runs hiking tours in the area, said: ‘Some very nasty attacks have taken place in recent weeks, and British visitors to the area need to be on their guard.
‘The most important thing is to try and avoid the cows, and certainly not to look them in the eye.
‘They are particularly sensitive during the hot weather and can be very aggressive.
'This is particularly so among lactating cows who feel that there young are being threatened by ramblers.’
Mr Martinez said the situation was getting so bad that there might be a repeat of the horrific incident in June when a Swiss farmer was killed by a bull in the Alps.
‘People think of cows as being docile, but in fact they have can be just as aggressive as bulls if the circumstances are right,' he added.
These kind of incidents can be terrifying for those involved, but if you follow the right precautions you should be perfectly safe.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1297737/Warning-British-tourists-rambler-left-critical-herd-mountain-cows.html#ixzz0uo7ayC4O
You could not make these stories up
By Peter Allen (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Peter+Allen)
Last updated at 1:03 PM on 26th July 2010
Comments (1) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1297737/Warning-British-tourists-rambler-left-critical-herd-mountain-cows.html#comments)
Add to My Stories (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1297737/Warning-British-tourists-rambler-left-critical-herd-mountain-cows.html)
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/07/26/article-1297737-0A92E0EE000005DC-163_233x253.jpg Mountain cows have been behind two attacks in the Pyrenees
A German rambler is in a critical condition in hospital today after being gorged and trampled on by a herd of mountain cows in front of her husband and two children.
In the latest of a series of ferocious attacks by the animals, the woman was bit and stamped on until she was knocked unconscious and had to be airlifted by emergency services.
It has prompted officials to warn British visitors to the Pyrenees to be on their guard.
Speaking about Friday's attack, a spokesman for the mountain police said: ‘She could easily have been killed.
‘The cows, who had some young calves with them, knew exactly what they were doing as they attacked her.
‘They bit and trampled her until she fell unconscious. Her husband managed to get away and call the emergency services who arrived by helicopter.
‘The woman was unconscious by the time she was evacuated out of the area, and was in a critical condition in hospital with wounds all over her body. H
'Her family were deeply traumatised by what they saw.’
Last Tuesday, in a separate incident on the same mountain, another rambler was set upon by the cows.
The 50-year-old was gorged by a particularly ferocious elderly animal who left him with wounds to the back of the head, the face and arms and legs.
‘The man was airlifted to hospital in Perpignan where he was in a very bad way,’ a police spokesman said.
‘He was suffering from very serious head injuries and trauma. The cow that caused the worst damage was an old one at the end of her life.’
Gerard Martinez, who runs hiking tours in the area, said: ‘Some very nasty attacks have taken place in recent weeks, and British visitors to the area need to be on their guard.
‘The most important thing is to try and avoid the cows, and certainly not to look them in the eye.
‘They are particularly sensitive during the hot weather and can be very aggressive.
'This is particularly so among lactating cows who feel that there young are being threatened by ramblers.’
Mr Martinez said the situation was getting so bad that there might be a repeat of the horrific incident in June when a Swiss farmer was killed by a bull in the Alps.
‘People think of cows as being docile, but in fact they have can be just as aggressive as bulls if the circumstances are right,' he added.
These kind of incidents can be terrifying for those involved, but if you follow the right precautions you should be perfectly safe.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1297737/Warning-British-tourists-rambler-left-critical-herd-mountain-cows.html#ixzz0uo7ayC4O
You could not make these stories up