A hiker (65) from Germany wants compensation after a cow attack on an alpine pasture in the Stubai Valley last year and is now suing a now deceased shepherd and the agricultural community. “Why is nothing being done? “That cannot be in the spirit of tourism,” says the tourist.
“An angry cow suddenly threw itself at me and hit my head repeatedly with its skull. At that moment I thought I was going to die,” says Petra M. from Hürth in North Rhine-Westphalia, as she remembers a hike in Tyrol with truly fatal consequences…
“Without my husband I would no longer be alive”
It was June 20, 2022, late in the morning: the now 65-year-old German woman was walking with her husband in the Stubai Valley on the pilgrimage route to the Maria Waldrast Monastery. The horror experience on the way back to the mountain station in Mieders. “Although we kept our distance, a light brown, almost pink cow attacked me from behind,” the woman emphasizes. Her husband had the presence of mind to grab a branch and ‘threaten’ the animal with it until it ran away. “If my husband had not intervened, I don’t know if I would still be alive.”
Expensive helicopter rescue and still trauma
The German was flown to the clinic in Innsbruck. “Luckily I had no fractures or internal injuries, but I did have severe bruises, cuts and bruises on my hands, arms, shoulders and back. The left side of the face and the eye were swollen shut,” the 65-year-old explained to “Krone”. Four weeks of sick leave and several bills followed. “The helicopter rescue alone cost more than 6,000 euros. There are also costs associated with various treatments. I’m still scared when I see cows.”
The Public Prosecution Service closes the investigations
Naturally, the police were called in after the attack. The case was referred to the public prosecutor, but the investigation was closed. “It cannot be established who owns the animal that caused the injuries, the signs are clear and sufficient and there are no references to previous incidents. Therefore, there is no criminal offense,” was the reasoning at the time.
Seven injured within three years
M. was astonished: “Our investigation has shown that two German tourists were injured by cows in the area before the attack on me. Even after that, similar incidents continued to occur. Recently a five-year-old child was trampled!” A total of seven people are said to have been injured in the past three years. “What else needs to be done?” the cow victim cannot believe.
The German hired a lawyer, went to court and demanded 15,000 euros from the now deceased shepherd and the agricultural community in a civil case at the Innsbruck regional court on Tuesday.
Cows slaughtered after incident involving child
The ‘culprits’ are said to have been Charolais cows. “Only one farmer in Mieders has this,” the mother of the injured girl burst into tears. The farmer, who was also present as a witness, did not want to hear that his animals were aggressive. “I even often took my children to the stable. Moreover, according to the shepherd, my cows were two kilometers away on June 20, 2022 and they had already been aborted in an incident in 2021,” the Tyrolean defended himself against the allegations. “After the girl was injured, I immediately had the cows slaughtered.”
The judge will now let us know in writing whether Mrs. M.’s lawsuit is successful.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
