Woman sent picture of cows moments before she was trampled to death

A young woman trampled to death by cows took a photograph of the herd and sent it to her mother before she was found critically injured, an inquest heard.

Rebekah Morris, 29, was out walking her small chihuahua called Zero in fields close to her home when she sent the image to her mother with the caption 'cowz'.

She then stopped responding to messages, prompting her worried parents to go to the field in the photograph - where they found her.

Emergency services were called but she went into cardiac arrest and, despite efforts by paramedics, was pronounced dead at the scene in Littlethorpe, Leicestershire, on the evening of July 9, 2022.

A jury inquest, which began at Leicester Coroner's Court on Monday, heard Ms Morris sent the image just before 9pm.

Farmer Guy Hutton and other residents gave her CPR before emergency services arrived. It was initially thought Ms Morris may have been attacked or strangled, a paramedic who attended the scene told the hearing.

But forensic pathologist Michael Biggs told the inquest that Ms Morris - known to family and friends as Becki - had 'hoofprints' to her chest and shoulder, and suffered an injury to her liver, which led to her death from internal bleeding.

He told the court she had suffered blunt force traumatic injuries and abrasions to her upper chest and left shoulder and her injuries were 'consistent with hoof marks from a trampling incident'.

'There was extensive damage to the liver, which led to severe internal bleeding. That's the main reason why Becki died,' he said.

He added that the number of injuries was 'not so large' that he believed the whole herd had been involved, and instead thought it was a 'relatively brief incident involving one cow'.

Dr Biggs said there was 'enough of a suspicion' to do a forensic post-mortem examination to 'rule out' the involvement of a person. But added: 'There were no other injuries to suggest the involvement of another person. All injuries were consistent with a livestock trampling incident.

'The type and location of the injuries in this case, for me, were indicative of something else, such as a large, heavy creature - such as a cow.'

There were traces of alcohol and medications in Ms Morris' blood at the time, the jury was told, but these were 'not a dangerous combination', Dr Biggs told the inquest.

The inquest, which is expected to last five days, continues.

Brits fatally trampled by killer cows  

KATHY McKELLAR, 74

Ms McKellar was found dead in September 2022 in a field after being trampled by a herd of cows while on holiday near Grindleton in Lancashire with her beloved cockapoo Archie.

The 'fiercely independent woman' was lying down with her arm under a wire fence at the other end of the field from where a public footpath passes through it.

Ms McKellar was pronounced dead at the scene with detectives noting she had several injuries consistent with being trampled by cattle.

She had gone for a walk with a pet pooch and was found in a field being grazed by 25 Limousin cows with calves and a bull. 

A post mortem CT scan revealed she died from traumatic chest injuries including fractured vertebrae and ribs.

DAVID CLARK, 59

The former Scotland under-21 rugby player was walking through a field in the Yorkshire Dales on September 21, 2020 when he was set upon.

The married father-of-three was floored by an initial stampede before one of the enormous cows turned around and ran straight into him in Richmond, North Yorkshire. 

The deputy headteacher, lost consciousness a short time later and was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of locals and paramedics.

Mr Clark, born in Duns in the Scottish Borders, played three times in the second row for Scotland under-21s, while his son Calum played for Northampton Saints and Saracens and made one cap for England.

At a jury inquest in Harrogate heard the field contained calves and cows that may have been attempting to protect their young at the time of the tragedy.

MARIAN CLODE, 61 

 The popular primary school teacher was on an Easter break in Northumberland in 2016 when she was tossed over a gate by the cow which had repeatedly charged at her.

A judge told how cattle approached Mrs Clode, her husband, daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren 'at speed'. 

Fit and active Mrs Clode suffered severe spinal injuries after the distressing attack and died three days later in hospital. 

At a court hearing, JM Nixon and Son, which runs Swinhoe Farm, Belford, admitted failing to ensure the safety of persons, other than employees, by exposing them to risks to their safety from the movement of cattle.

Judge Tim Gittins passed sentence, fining the firm £72,500 and ordering it to also pay £34,700 costs, plus a victim surcharge of several hundred pounds.

The family released a statement following sentencing in which they said Marian's death was 'completely avoidable' and expressed their struggle in coming to terms with it.

ALLISON PAYNE, 55

The dog walker died in August 2022 after walking her dog through a farmer's field of aggressive cows in West Sussex near where she lived.

Ms Payne often walked her dog, Penny, around fields surrounding the village near Horsham and would take the route she was walking when she died 'at least weekly'.

She was walking the Staffordshire bull terrier in a field with around 20 cows, each with calves around five months old.

A passer-by later found Penny without Ms Payne and posted a missing dog appeal on social media.

Ms Payne was found in the field off Rowner Road, near Billinghurst, where she was treated by paramedics and air ambulance crews. However, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

HUW EVANS, 75 

The retired council worker was crossing the road in the centre of Whitland, Carmarthenshire, when he was attacked by a cow that had escaped from a nearby market.

He was confronted by an 'extremely agitated' cow that had escaped from Whitland Mart and sustained multiple injuries. 

Mr Evans was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff but died there on November 25, 2022. 

The cow, a brown Limousin breed, escaped while being unloaded from a trailer at Whitland Mart where a livestock market operated by JJ Morris Auctioneers was taking place.

The cow then ran down the main road to the centre of Whitland, a short distance away and attacked Mr Evans despite attempts by people to contain it.

Trains were stopped when the animal made its way onto rail track in the area, before it was put down in a nearby field.

Following Mr Evans' death, his family issued a tribute through Dyfed-Powys Police.

They said: 'Huw was a loved dad, dadcu, brother, uncle and friend to many.

'We would like to thank the community for their support and well wishes while Huw was in hospital and since his passing, we now know how much he will be missed.'