British Kathy McKellar (74) was holidaying in a cottage in the Ribble Valley in Lancashire when an afternoon walk with the dog ended fatally.
When the 74-year-old and mixed-breed dog Archie went for a walk on 25 September last year, only the dog returned. Kathy was found dead the next day. This is written by local newspapers, among others Lancs Live.
Never experienced anything like it
– Not good enough
According to a court hearing at Accrington Town Hall on Monday 6 February, Kathy and the dog allegedly followed a path that crossed several fields.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the British answer to the Norwegian Occupational Safety and Health Administration. During the hearing, the victim’s son, Andy McKellar, called for the inspectorate to introduce stricter regulations for keeping animals on land where tourists travel.
– People have died because there are now only guidelines, and it is not perceived as good enough, said the son.
Warning: – Huge mistake
– Guidelines are guidelines – you must not follow them. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else, he added.
Found by the farmer
On the same evening that Kathy had set out on a trip, the owner of the holiday cottage became aware that the dog Archie was running around with the leash hanging behind him.
RETURNED ALONE: Archie the dog returned without his foster mother. Photo: Facebook
sea view
Not seeing Kathy, the cabin owner called 911, then went outside to look for the 74-year-old.
The land Kathy and the dog crossed is owned by farmer John Towler. When he went to look after his cattle the next morning, he found Kathy lying next to the electric fence.
Pronounced dead at the scene
According to Towler, he had suspected that something was wrong when he saw a rucksack lying around.
Got backwards from the burger bill
– I went over to it, and that’s when I discovered the deceased, Towler explained during the hearing.
The 74-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene by police investigators. They noted that Kathy had several injuries consistent with being trampled to death by cows.
A CT scan of the body concluded that Kathy died as a result of extensive chest injuries, as well as crushed vertebrae and ribs.
Sound the alarm: – Dangerous to life
Got a warning
The farmer explained that he has never seen signs of aggressive behavior in his animals, nor should they be afraid of dogs. He himself owns two sheepdogs.
During the hearing, it emerged that Towler’s cattle had behaved threateningly towards a woman in 2018. She must have woken the cows as she passed.
At the time, the HSE advised the farmer to move feed and water containers from the path and put up a warning sign.
Following Kathy’s death, the HSE issued a notice ordering Towler to fence off the path on the land in question.
