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Fatal cow trampling leads to calls for signs

BBC A head and shoulders photo of a man with grey hair wearing a green and black waterproof jacket. There's a large expanse of grassland behind him, with a line of trees on the horizon. The sky is cloudy and his coat is wet with rain.BBC
Kevin Parker said he was charged by a cow in the New Forest

There are calls for warning signs about livestock to be put up following the death of an elderly woman thought to have been trampled by cows.

Pamela Joyce Barnwell, 88, died on 21 October after an incident involving the animals in the New Forest in Hampshire, a coroner said on Tuesday.

Kevin Parker, a regular walker, said he was charged at by a cow near to where the incident happened just a few days before.

Hampshire County Council said responsibility for livestock signage on land crossed by footpaths rested with the owners of the animals.

Mr Parker said he "slipped and fell backwards" as a cow was coming towards him.

"I don't know what made me do it, but I rolled over to the right and scrambled to try and get back up onto my feet again," he said.

"As I did that, the cow jumped and landed exactly where I'd been laid... if I hadn't have moved I'd have been seriously injured."

A stretch of open grassland with some shrubbery and trees on the horizon. It's raining and the sky is cloudy.
The incident happened near to where an 88-year-old woman was found seriously injured

It comes after the death of Ms Barnwell, from Fordingbridge, Hampshire.

An inquest into her death was opened on Tuesday, with a preliminary cause of death listed as multiple traumatic injuries.

It also noted she had ischaemic heart disease.

The inquest will be heard on 15 September 2025.

A yellow sign on some grass, warning people to keep their distance from animals and to keep dogs under control.
Mr Parker said there needed to be more education on the risks

Mr Parker said livestock should continue to be allowed in the New Forest, but that there needed to be greater education, especially for tourists.

"The land is here to roam on, for people and animals, I don't think you should stop it," he said.

"I just think there needs to be a campaign of awareness."

Two adult cows, one grey and one black, and two calves, one brown and one black, grazing on some grass with shrubbery behind them.
People have been urged to report instances of cattle behaving aggressively

Andrew Parry Norton, chair of the New Forest Commoners Defence Association, which represents New Forest commoners and their animals, urged people to keep away from livestock and to report instances of cattle showing signs of aggression.

"We share the forest with a lot of people," he said. "We as commoners have responsibility as well."

Hampshire County Council said in a statement: "While the County Council would install highways related signage, primarily intended for drivers, responsibility for livestock, on land that a right of way crosses, and any associated required signs, would rest with the owners of the animals."

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