Tragedy in New Forest as 88-year-old woman dies after cow attack

An 88-year-old woman died after being knocked over and trampled by a cow.

Pamela Barnwell was found calling for help near a village cricket green, surrounded by “20 to 30 cows”, an inquest heard.

As she lay seriously injured on the ground, she told a Forestry England ranger that one of the cows “knocked her over and trampled her”.

Ms Barnwell died from her injuries later that day, following the accident in the New Forest National Park, Hants.

Emma Morris, the assistant coroner, told Winchester Coroner’s Court that the cause of death was pelvic hemorrhage and polytrauma.

Mrs. Morris concluded that the death was accidental and that ischemic heart disease was a contributing factor.

The accident happened on Oct 21, 2024, when Ms. Barnwell was walking her dog in Godshill, Hampshire.

Joe Younger, a Forestry England volunteer, made a statement that the coroner summarized to the court.

Mrs. Morris said: “He and another ranger were checking the car parks, and at approximately one o’clock stopped at Godshill Cricket Club and parked the van.

“There was a lot of livestock facing the green and they noticed a lot of animals started walking to the right of where they were.”

She said the rangers had found Ms. Barnwell on the ground “surrounded by animals”, and said she was “asking for help and said one of the cows had knocked her over and trampled her”.

Her dog was also found off its lead nearby.

The court heard Ms. Barnwell suffered a cardiac arrest en route to the hospital. She was unconscious upon her family’s arrival at 5 pm and died later that evening.

The owner of the cows, named only as Mr. Reynolds by the coroner, said: “There had been no other signs of anyone causing problems on that day.”

Mr. Reynolds, who owns Smithfield Farm in Godshill, also mentioned that, as was the case with other livestock in the area, his cows were allowed to roam freely around the New Forest.