A herd of cows tramples two old men in Austria. One of them met a tragic fate

A terrible tragedy has struck Austria. An 85-year-old man from Vienna reportedly died after he and his 82-year-old wife were reportedly trampled by a herd of cows.

Police in Vienna said the couple and their dog were walking along a forest trail in Ramsau am Dachstein, Styria, when they came across several cows, with calves in the vicinity.

The witnesses said that the herd, which consisted of three calves and a mother cow, was most likely frightened by the couple's dog.

The owners of a nearby farmhouse called an ambulance.

The couple were taken by helicopter to a hospital in Salzburg, but the man died of his injuries before surgery. The woman is reported to be in a stable condition, although she also suffered serious injuries.

The cause of the man's death will be determined after an autopsy. It will then be determined whether the cause of death was due to trauma caused by livestock or some other cause.  

In 2019, Austria introduced a code of conduct with guidelines for travellers, instructing them to keep a safe distance from cows and to lead dogs on a short lead. Travellers are also advised to release their dogs if cattle approach them aggressively.

In Salzburg in 2024, a woman was killed by a herd of cows while walking with two small dogs.

There have been previous cases of animals attacking people, including a child who was injured when his father tried to take pictures of calves.

It has been pointed out that cows can perceive dogs as a threat. However, even without a dog, safety precautions should be taken, such as avoiding direct contact with cows. It is also recommended not to feed the animals, as cows can become aggressive if at some point they instinctively decide that they are being deprived of food. It is recommended not to make sudden movements around cows and to avoid eye contact with the animals.