A woman who was nearly killed by a herd of crazed cows has revealed the impact her injuries had on her life – and now the farmer’s insurers have paid her out.
NHS administrator Jill Gilmore still suffers from the horrific trampling and goring she suffered when she fell under the thrashing hooves of wide-eyed, mooing and snorting cattle.
Jill, 57, from Stockport, was walking with her husband Mark and their dog Finnegan on August 10, 2021, along a public footpath through a field when they noticed a herd of cows.
However, there was no fence separating the herd from the public.
Several cows attacked Jill and Mark, 60, was unable to reach her.
A woman who was nearly killed by a herd of crazed cows has revealed the impact her injuries have had on her life
Three years on, NHS administrator Jill Gilmore is still suffering the horrific trampling and goring – and now the farmer’s insurers have paid up.
Jill suffered fractures to her spine, neck, ribs and pelvis, and suffered punctured lungs.
He began throwing his belongings at the cattle that were ‘jumping up and down’ on his wife.
The herd scattered and Mark managed to pull them to safety under a broken fence.
He was conscious but had fractures to his spine, neck, ribs and pelvis, and suffered punctured lungs.
She was airlifted from the scene in Hazel Grove to hospital and, after numerous operations, was confined to a wheelchair for five months.
Serious injury lawyers Irwin Mitchell have taken on the case and said today that the farmer’s insurers have accepted liability and made funds available to cover the cost of her extensive physical and psychological rehabilitation.
Despite having made a miraculous recovery, he still has physical limitations and still suffers psychological distress.
Speaking for the first time about the impact of her injuries, she told how the horror unfolded when a cow attacked her during the walk.
She tried to flee and let go of Finnegan’s leash, but was knocked down by the cows, many of which weighed almost a ton.
After being discharged in October 2021, she was cared for by Mark, an accountant at the University of Manchester, and was confined to a wheelchair until January 2022.
Despite the nature and extent of his injuries, he has been fully involved in his rehabilitation and has made a remarkable recovery, to the point of having successfully returned to work.
But she continues to have physical limitations and still experiences psychological distress.
‘I don’t remember much about the attack itself, other than walking down the path with Mark and Finnegan before the cows came into view.
‘They came up to me and I started to run, but I fell to the ground and that’s when they came for me. I don’t remember, but Mark said they were jumping up and down on me.
“The next thing I remember exactly is being taken to the hospital. My whole body was in pain and I couldn’t understand what had happened.
‘From that day on, our lives changed completely. To this day, I still struggle with everything I’ve been through, both physically and emotionally, and it really hasn’t been easy for Mark either.
“We’ve been out walking together a lot, but I never thought I’d be attacked by a herd of cows. It’s like something you see in a TV series.
“Since that day, our lives have completely changed. To this day, I still struggle with what I’ve been through, both physically and emotionally, and it really hasn’t been easy for Mark either,” Jill said.
‘I know I am very lucky to be alive and I am very grateful to everyone who has helped me, especially Mark, who has been a great support.
‘And while nothing can change what I went through that day, I hope that by sharing my story I can help prevent it from happening to someone else.
‘Farmers have a responsibility to keep their livestock and the public safe, and walkers need to be aware of the potential risks that exist so they can be prepared or make a conscious decision to avoid them.’
Irwin Mitchell’s Matt Brown said: ‘The last three years have been incredibly difficult for Jillian as she tries to come to terms with her injuries, and also for Mark, who has struggled to comprehend the horrors he saw that day.
‘While Jillian has made great strides in her recovery, she still faces many challenges and what happened will likely affect her for the rest of her life.
‘We continue to support Jillian and Mark as they try to get through this difficult time. We also join them in sharing their story and urging others to take extra care and caution around livestock as their behaviour can often be unpredictable, especially when they are with their calves.
‘It is also vital that farmers put in place appropriate restrictions to keep their animals separated from the public, particularly where animals are likely to behave in a way that could cause serious harm, and also put up signs at field entrances to let people know that there are cattle with calves outdoors and the risks associated with that.’
As part of Farm Safety Week, Irwin Mitchell is reminding walkers and farmers what steps they can take to improve safety in the field.
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