'Unprovoked' cow attack leaves grandmother with broken bones

A WOMAN reportedly suffered broken bones in a cow attack as she and her granddaughter walked in Beaulieu on Wednesday morning.

It is believed the commoner’s animal was protecting its calf when it launched the attack in a green near the entrance to Beaulieu Abbey, off Palace Lane.

Both the cow and the calf have since been removed from the site by their owner on the instructions of the verderers.

Posting about the incident on Facebook, Nicky Davidson, a friend of the victim, claimed she and the young girl had not gone near the cow and calf when it happened.

“Please be careful of cows with calves if walking around Beaulieu, especially the ones on the green by the Abbey entrance,” she warned.

“An accident happened this morning where a friend of mine, walking her granddaughter to school, was charged at by a mother cow, and now has a few broken bones.

“No one’s fault they weren’t near them, as they know not to get close, especially with calves, but were spotted, then charged at.”

Verderers’ clerk Sue Westwood said action had been taken as soon as they was made aware of the attack.

“I am sorry to hear that the lady has been hurt to that extent,” she told the A&T.

“We asked the owner to remove the animal as soon as it had been identified once we had been made aware that there was a problem.”

She added: “Cows can be very protective over young calves, so we would always advise people to keep as far away as possible.”