Warning to walkers after cattle attack death

A family have warned about the dangers of country walking after one member died after they were attacked by a herd of cattle while holidaying in Northumberland.

61-year-old Marian Clode died after being attacked by the herd while out for a family walk on April 3 in Belford, Northumberland.

She was visiting the area with her husband, 63-year-old Christopher, their daughter, Lucy Rowe, her husband, Kevin Rowe, and their two children (Marian’s grandchildren), Oliver and Charlotte, staying at Swinhoe Farm Cottages.

Mrs Clode and her family had been walking along a public bridle path which runs through the farm from the well-known national trust site St Cuthbert’s Cave when they were approached at speed by a herd of cattle. The family say one of the herd became aggressive, approaching Mrs Clode and repeatedly head-butted her.

Mr Rowe shepherded the rest of the party to safety in an adjoining field before returning to his mother-in-law who, by that time, was lying unconscious and face down in a field off the bridle path.

The farmer arrived on the scene several minutes after the attack, on a quad bike.

An ambulance was called and both the Rowes and paramedics attempted resuscitation before Mrs Clode, from Ashton-under-Lyne, was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne. She died on April 5.

The family, who live in Hyde, has engaged Gordon Cartwright of JMW Solicitors to help guide them through the legal process to come, which will involve an inquest - a hearing likely to involve both Northumbria Police and the HSE - and want to ensure that they are adequately represented.