There are always incidents with cows in hiking areas – such as recently along the Tyrolean Kalkkögel or in June in Mieders in the Stubai Valley. The victim turned to the “Krone” at the time, describing the shocking experience and criticizing the investigations, which were eventually halted.
It should have been a holiday in the Stubai on the occasion of the wedding anniversary – the trip ended with a horror experience for a German couple!
It is June 20, late in the morning: Petra M. from Hürth in North Rhine-Westphalia is walking with her husband on the pilgrimage route to the Maria Waldrast monastery. Then came the shock on the way back to the mountain station in Mieders. “A cow jumped me from behind and I fell into the ditch. The animal then threw itself at me and continued to hit my head with its skull. I thought I was going to die,” M. describes the dramatic scenes of “Krone”.
“I wouldn’t live without my husband”
Her husband had the presence of mind to grab a branch and “beat” the cow so she let her go and ran away. “Otherwise I don’t know if I’d still be alive.”
Before the attack, the couple saw the cows and young animals. Standing on the road. “Because we respect cows, we kept our distance and waited for the animals to leave the trail,” says M. After a few minutes, they actually disappeared into the woods. As the couple continued their walk, a cow suddenly ran towards M. from behind. “This only took seconds, I didn’t have a chance.”
Helicopter to the clinic
After the attack, another couple immediately called 112. After the emergency room on site, Petra M. was rescued by helicopter and flown to the Innsbruck clinic. “Luckily I had no fractures or internal injuries, but I did have severe bruises, cuts and bruises on my hands, arms, shoulders and back with pressure on my kidneys and lungs. The left side of the face and eye were swollen, full of scrapes and bruises.”
Four weeks of sick leave followed. The helicopter rescue and flight to the clinic cost more than 6,000 euros. There are also costs for various treatments.
Trauma and still getting medical help
Two months later, M. is still under medical treatment, she described on Wednesday when asked. “I have trauma, pain and fear when I see a cow.”
Reasons to drop the preliminary investigation
Of course, after the cow attack, the police were also called in. The case went to the public prosecutor’s office, but the preliminary investigation was discontinued. With justification: “Who owns the animal causing the injuries cannot be determined, the signs are clear and abundant and there is no evidence of previous incidents, therefore there is no criminal offense.”
M. is stunned: “What else needs to be done? Why is nothing being done? That cannot be in the interest of tourism.” A lawyer is involved. follow-up possible.
Tackling liability, hikers have a duty
Who is liable if a cow in Tyrol injures a person? In Austria, the owner of the animal is liable for alpine livestock, for example the leaseholder of an alpine pasture. However, after a cow attack, he can only be prosecuted if he has “failed to meet the necessary guardianship and supervision,” explains lawyer Hans Gföller. of the Agriculture Chamber.
And since the law allows grazing livestock to roam freely, there is no need to fence the animals. The Tiroler Almschutzverordnung prescribes that hikers bear a certain personal responsibility and observe the rules of conduct on the Alm.
The Big Debt
If it is clear after an attack that the owner of the pet cannot be blamed, then the victim must bear the costs, according to the lawyer – even if they are not at fault. Gföller knows that if the Alpine farmer is at fault, he is covered by his own liability insurance or that of the Almwirtschaftsverein or the Land of Tyrol.
The Tyrolean police have always stopped criminal investigations after an attack by a cow. “Because no negligence could be found,” explains the lawyer. In the well-known case of the holidaymaker who died in 2014 after an attack by a cow in the Pinnis Valley, the family is demanding compensation.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
