A MAN was killed and his widow left paralysed after being trampled by a herd of cows, an inquest heard.
The couple were tragically stampeded when they went for a walk with their daughter's dogs.
Michael Holmes, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene and his widow Teresa was airlifted to hospital.
The 57-year-old suffered 35 rib fractures and the hearing heard the sack around his heart was punctured.
A pathologist told the inquest, held at Wakefield Civil and Family Justice Centre, that Michael's injuries would not have been survivable.
His wife Teresa was left unconscious after the stampede but awoke a week later in hospital, only to find out her husband had been killed.
The recovering widow spent six months in hospital with a spinal fracture, spinal cord injuries and fractured ribs.
These injuries will leave her permanently confined to a wheelchair.
Teresa spoke at the inquest and shared her grief over the loss of her husband of 34 years.
She said: "We were both working from home and it became a routine to get out every day for half an hour for a walk.
Most read in The Sun
"We set off just after 12 with the dogs. Both dogs were used to each other and we had them both on fixed leads.
"We were aware that there were sometimes cattle on the field.
"Quite often we would come in the reverse way to the field and we've seen cattle and said we won't go across the field. We'd take a different route.
"I don't remember the incident, which is a good thing really because what happened must have been horrific."
She informed the court that she used to work for children's services at Leeds City Council, but sadly no longer feels she can.
The widow described her husband as a loving family man with a great sense of humour.
Speaking at the inquest was also the Health and Safety Executive - who has seen nine cow stampede related deaths across the last five years.
However, he claimed there was a spike in these fatalities in 2020 and Michael's death was the third in a month.
Deputy headteacher David Clark died after being trampled by cattle in a field north of Richmond, North Yorks., just days earlier.
Malcolm Flynn, 72, was fatally injured when he was charged by cows on land near Thirlwall Castle and Gisland, Northumberland.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The inquest continues.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErKynZpOke7a3jqecsKtfZ35xgZhxbm1nk6TCsbjEZqurmZ2luaawjJuwZqCVp7Fuu8Vmmqivo2Q%3D