Elderly Hiker Killed in Tragic Cow Attack
A tragic incident unfolded in the Austrian Alps when a hiker lost his life after being trampled by a herd of cows, along with his wife, while they were out walking their dog on a forest road, local police reported on Monday.
Fatal encounters with cows are quite uncommon in Austria, a country of over nine million people, where the stunning mountains attract tourists and where cow herds roam freely during the summer months.
The 85-year-old man and his 82-year-old partner were making their way to a mountain hut in Ramsau am Dachstein, located in Austria‘s Styria province, when the unfortunate event took place on Sunday afternoon, according to police.
“A retired couple from Vienna and their dog were walking just below the so-called Austria hut when a herd of nine cows — including three calves — charged and severely injured them,” local police spokesman Markus Lamb told AFP.
A group of hikers and the staff at a nearby refuge hut witnessed the attack, quickly jumped into action to provide first aid, and called for emergency services. Unfortunately, the couple was taken to the hospital, but the man passed away just before he could have emergency surgery in Salzburg.
Local prosecutors are currently looking into the details surrounding the attack, awaiting the results of an autopsy.
In a separate incident in 2024, a woman hiking in the Salzburg region tragically lost her life when a herd of cows charged at her while she was out with her two small dogs.
After a tragic cow attack that happened a decade ago, the Austrian government took action by releasing a “code of conduct” aimed at hikers.
These guidelines suggest maintaining a safe distance from cows and keeping dogs on a short leash, but they also advise letting them loose if you find yourself in a dangerous situation.
Elderly Hiker Killed in Tragic Cow Attack
