Killed by a herd of cows! A 40-year-old woman from Salzburg lost her life in the Gastein Valley on her birthday. The consternation on site is great. Experts call: be careful in mountain areas!
She was always friendly. Always in a good mood, very popular and well-known, deeply rooted in the Gasteinertal as a bus driver. “And a very beautiful one,” says a resident of Pongau to the “Krone”. The shock and grief after the tragedy are boundless! The 40-year-old died – as reported – on Wednesday while walking with her two daughters (20, 23). Attacked and killed by a herd of cows!
The background to the accident is still completely unclear. The fact is: the woman traveled through the mountains on her birthday. It was supposed to be a trip together on their happy day. She was traveling with her two children and two dogs in the Schlossalm area.
The unthinkable happened almost 200 meters below the famous Hamburg ski hut. Several cows attacked the trio. “Suddenly,” as the police called it. Had the hikers scared the cattle? Was the dog behaving aggressively? Did the cows want to protect their calves? There are no answers to all these questions – and there won’t be any time soon. “We are looking for witnesses to the accident,” Chief Inspector Hans Wolfgruber told the “Krone”.
Herd of cows is from Pongau ÖVP politician
The two daughters could only be briefly questioned about the circumstances of the accident. Because the siblings sustained injuries during the cow attacks. Unlike their mother, they were able to get to safety and raise the alarm. They remain in the Schwarzach hospital.
The two dogs were probably on a leash. Wolfgruber: “We don’t know yet whether they were on a leash at the time of the attack.” Hannes Reitshamer, mountain rescue operations manager, said: “When we arrived at the scene of the accident, both dogs were on leashes. And: “The herd of cows was still about 40 years old.”
Shortly afterwards, the rescue helicopter Alpin Heli 6 arrived and the pilot was able to drive away the cattle. The sound of the rotor blades caused the cows to flee. The emergency doctor then tried to revive the 40-year-old, but ultimately in vain.
Alm remains closed
There are numerous mountain pastures around the accident site. Only a few weeks ago, farmers were driving up mother cows and young cattle. It has now been confirmed: the herd of cows belongs to an ÖVP member of the state parliament. He was not immediately available for comment. The Alm will remain closed to hikers for the time being.
The farmers of Salzburg turned to the public the day after the fatal cow attack. President of the Chamber of Agriculture, Rupert Quehenberger, was affected and expressed his condolences. He urgently appealed to all walkers: “Cows protect their calves through their maternal instinct, sometimes they see strange dogs as a danger. That is why it is all the more important to observe the most important rules of conduct when encountering grazing animals in order to protect yourself.”
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.
