With Farm Safety Week running until Friday 8 July, I found myself at home over the weekend discussing with my parents some of the near misses we’ve had on our farm at home in Westmeath.
However, the event that hit our family hardest took place on my uncle Finian’s farm a number of years back. Like many Irish farms, my uncle inherited the family farm but my grandparents still lived in the old farmhouse adjacent to the farmyard.
During calving season, Finian was forced to call out the vet one night to perform a section on one of his cows. And while the section went well, the cow was in some discomfort after it and Finian had warned my grandmother Rose to stay out of the yard and keep away from the cow.
However, with dinner ready the following day, my grandmother Rose, who was the slightest little woman in her mid-70’s, went out to the yard to call Finian in. When she got no response at first, she decided to take a chance and cross the holding yard with the sectioned cow in it to get to where Finian was working.
The cow instantly charged across the yard and knocked my grandmother to the ground
The cow instantly charged across the yard and knocked my grandmother to the ground rendering her unconscious. Even as she lay there the cow charged her a number of times again until my uncle saw what was happening.
He was forced to drag my unconscious grandmother across the yard and under a gate to protect from the animal. Thankfully I can say that Rose survived the attack but spent two weeks in hospital with severe bruising and a lot of fluid in her lungs.
The ordeal was a real shock to all of us in the family and just goes to show how simple these things can happen. Never take chances around animals.
Farm Safety Week
Farm Safety Week runs from 4 July to 8 July and the Irish Farmers Journal will have daily coverage as well as in this week's print edition.
Share your stories
Do you have a personal experience to share? Email webdesk@farmersjournal.ie and we will publish a selection of these online.
In pictures: Design a safe handling unit to Department specifications
Staying safe during the breeding season
Think safety when dipping or using pour-ons
SHARING OPTIONS