Cows trampled and kicked walker to death

Retired teacher Malcolm Flynn loved the countryside and walking, his family said

A 72-year-old was thrown into the air by cows which then repeatedly attacked him, an inquest has heard.

Malcolm Flynn, from Carlisle, was walking with a friend along Hadrian's Wall when they were charged at by cattle who were with their calves on 11 September 2020.

His fellow walker called the emergency services after managing to escape by climbing a tree.

However, Mr Flynn was pronounced dead at the scene in a field at Thirlwall Castle Farm near Gilsland in Northumberland.

Christopher Barkless said he and Mr Flynn - a fellow member of the Ramblers' Association - had entered the field and there were four cows and their calves blocking his path.

He told the inquest: "I was not comfortable with that situation, they were not behaving in a manner that I would expect.

"If you look in a cow's eyes it will normally look away, it won't stare you out.

"If it looks away, it will normally disperse. These cows were different.

"They didn't demonstrate any intention of being fazed by the presence of two human beings, in fact they came forward to confront us."

'Flipped up'

Mr Barkless said he told his friend he was changing course and turned his back.

He then heard a "tumultuous motion" as the cattle moved quickly towards Mr Flynn who started to run away.

However, he was shoulder-charged, knocked to the ground, flipped up in the air and then trampled every time he moved.

When Mr Flynn made a final attempt to get up, a cow kicked him in the face, Mr Barkless said.

It was only when the air ambulance flew over, 30 minutes after the first attack, that the cows dispersed.

Medics were unable to save Mr Flynn, who had suffered chest injuries.

Assistant Coroner Kirsten Mercer told jurors there was a sign warning walkers about the cows and calves in the field and how they could be "unpredictable".

One of the issues to be considered during the five-day hearing was a previous incident almost exactly a year before where two walkers were injured by cows.

The inquest in Morpeth continues.