In August, 61-year-old Mary-Jane Parker and her dog Lola were hiking near Newtonmore in the Scottish Highlands when they unexpectedly encountered a hidden herd of cattle. As Parker skirted a mound, the cows surrounded her; one charged, knocking her down and crushing her between them. Her backpack strap caught on a cow’s leg, dragging her across the ground before she was tossed into the air and crashed back down. Her dog escaped in panic.
Survival Efforts
Parker played dead for 45 minutes amid the herd, feeling cows snuffle her head, lick her wounds, and paw her foot. She protected her severely torn left calf (muscle ripped from knee to ankle) with her other leg and used mental repetition—”Keep holding on, don’t go to sleep”—to stay conscious. Unable to reach her phone 25 feet away, she activated an SOS on her Garmin device from her backpack.
Rescue and Injuries
Fellow hikers chased the cattle away, confirmed Lola’s safety, and alerted authorities. Police and paramedics arrived, but her extensive injuries required Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance to Raigmore Hospital, then transfer to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for surgery. Injuries included:
- 10 broken ribs
- Broken sternum and right hand
- Major leg trauma with ripped calf muscle
- Bruised lungs, blood in chest wall
- Multiple bruises to head, face, and body
She endured skin grafts and was discharged after 10 days, now grateful for her second chance despite crippling pain.
This highlights hiking risks in cattle-grazing areas—experts advise giving herds wide berth, especially with dogs, as cows protect calves aggressively. For UK outdoor safety tips, check sources like Ramblers Scotland. Do you want details on similar incidents, hiking gear like Garmin SOS, or local trails in Haryana?
