An elderly man hiking with his wife and dog tragically died after being attacked by a group of cows in Ramsau am Dachstein, Austria. The 85-year-old and his 82-year-old wife were ambushed by nine cows while heading towards a mountain hut last Sunday. Witnesses suggest that the cows may have been startled by the couple’s dog.
Good Samaritans and staff from the mountain hut rushed to help the couple and contacted emergency services. Both individuals were taken to a hospital in Salzburg, but the man succumbed to his injuries before undergoing emergency surgery. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident, with plans for an autopsy.
According to police spokesman Markus Raich, the elderly couple from Vienna and their dog were walking towards the Austria hut when they encountered the herd of cows, including three calves. Witnesses reported that the cows reacted aggressively to the couple’s dog, resulting in the tragic attack.
The man, who was airlifted to Cardinal Schwarzenberg Hospital in Salzburg, tragically passed away, while his wife sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Their dog, a mixed breed, managed to escape the cows and is currently under the care of the couple’s relatives.
This unfortunate event serves as a reminder for people to exercise caution when around cows, especially when accompanied by dogs, as it can startle the animals and provoke aggressive behavior.
In a related incident earlier this year in China, a farmer lost his life after being crushed by one of his cows during feeding time. The elderly man was feeding his animals when one cow charged at him, pinning him against a wall and continuing to headbutt him until his tragic demise. The incident occurred in central China on April 11, and despite efforts to save him, the farmer succumbed to his injuries shortly after being hospitalized.