Company fined after father-of-two killed by escaped cow

MEDIA WALES
Huw Evans was knocked down and trampled by a cow that was being auctioned at a livestock market. Credit: Media Wales

A company has been fined £75,000 after a 75-year-old man was killed by a cow that had escaped from a livestock market.

Huw Evans, a father of two, was knocked down and trampled by a cow that was being auctioned at a livestock market run by J.J. Morris Limited on November 19, 2022.The cow was being unloaded into a pen at Whitland Livestock Market in Carmarthenshire, but managed to escape before heading towards Whitland town centre.

Mr Evans had been crossing the junction at North Road and West Street when he was attacked by the cow.He suffered multiple injuries and was flown to the University Hospital of Wales, but died died six days later.

A worker at J.J. Morris Limited was injured in an attempt to capture the cow, before it was caught and put down by Dyfed-Powys Police.A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found J.J. Morris Limited, which has operated Whitland Livestock Market for more than 30 years, failed to implement basic, physical control measures to prevent cattle from escaping.

The HSE determined that the company’s risk assessment was not suitable as it referenced control measures that were not present at the market.J.J. Morris Limited, of Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The company was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £5,047.55 in costs at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 20.

Mr Evans’ son, Dafydd, told the court: "Dad was my best friend and I miss him terribly, he was taken from us too soon. Losing dad has had a tremendous effect on both myself and my brother.

"Because of this incident dad’s grandsons will never fully know him personally and he will not see them grow up."Rhys Hughes, a HSE inspector, said after the hearing: "This tragic incident was foreseeable and preventable. The risk posed by cattle escaping from the livestock mart should have been identified, and effective control measures implemented.

"The case highlights the importance of following industry guidance, which is readily accessible and outlines the requirements to safely manage cattle."

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