Dog-walker, 88, with ‘huge personality’ trampled to death by cow

An 88-year-old woman was trampled to death by a cow while she walked her dog.

Pam Barnwell, 88, was on her daily walk with her beloved Jack Russell dog Rosie when she was charged.

She was found lying on the ground with serious injuries and taken to hospital, but she died the next day.

Colleagues from the solicitors firm where Pam still worked as an archivist after 20 years have now paid tribute to her.

Among them is Edward Holmes, director at Meesons & Spurlings Solicitors in Ringwood, just north of Bournemouth, in Hampshire.

He said: ‘Pam was diminutive in stature but huge in personality. At 88 years of age she worked part time in our company for over 20 years as an archivist.

‘She enjoyed her job which she was very good at and, being Pam, she had no intention of retiring.

‘She was loved by both old and young throughout the company and we are all devastated by her loss in such tragic circumstances.’

An inquest has been opened into Pam’s death, which happened in Godshill, near Fordingbridge where she lived, on October 12.

Recording her death as pelvic haemorrhage and polytrauma (multiple traumatic injuries), a full inquest will be heard next September.

The tragedy has fuelled calls for greater safety in the New Forest, where up to 3,000 cows graze during peak months of the year.

Days before Pam died, Kevin Parker, 63, said he narrowly avoided being killed when he jumped out of the way of charging cattle in the area.

He said a cow emerged from the bushes without warning, causing him to slip and fall on wet grass as he shouted and waved his arms.

The cow jumped and landed inches away from him Kevin, who managed to roll out of its way.

Hampshire Council said: ‘While the county council would install highways related signage, primarily intended for drivers, responsibility for livestock, on land that a right of way crosses, and any associated required signs, would rest with the owners of the animals.’

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