Woman killed by cow while walking chihuahua after straying from footpath, inquest rules

Becki Morris, 29, was walking her chihuahua Zero in Littlethorpe, Leicestershire, on the evening of July 9 when she was trampled to death by a cow after straying from a footpath, an inquest has concluded

A woman was tragically killed by a cow while out walking her dog, an inquest has heard. Becki Morris, 29, had taken her chihuahua, Zero, for a walk on a summer's evening in Littlethorpe, Leicestershire, when the incident occurred on July 9, 2022.

Following the hearing, Ms Morris's father, David, described his daughter as "beautiful" and shared that she had gone for a "short walk with her chihuahua on a summer’s evening and never came home". The jury at Leicester Coroner’s Court concluded that Ms Morris had strayed from the public footpath across the field for unknown reasons, leading to her fatal encounter with the cow.

During her walk, Ms Morris had sent a photo of the cattle in the field to her mother. When she stopped responding to messages, her parents went to search for her in the field shown in the picture, where they found her injured.

Despite paramedics' efforts, Ms Morris suffered a cardiac arrest and died at 11.21pm. Forensic pathologist Dr Michael Biggs told the inquest that Ms Morris's injuries, including blunt force trauma and abrasions consistent with hoof marks, indicated a trampling incident.

He added that she had sustained severe internal bleeding due to extensive damage to her liver, which ultimately led to her death.

The inquest heard that a public footpath, marked by "yellow posts", ran through the field off Riverside Way, which was part of Warwick Bridge Farm at the time. Guy Hutton, the son of the farm owner, told the jury that when he left the farm that evening and saw Ms Morris injured, she was some distance from this designated path.

He also mentioned that there were either 17 or 18 cows and one calf in the field and that he had "never known the cattle to stampede". He described them as "easy-going" cows that behaved in a "docile manner".

Ms Thistlethwaite concluded the inquest by addressing the family and said: "To Becki’s family you have my very, very sincere condolences."

"It is very clear to me how much you loved Becki. You must miss her terribly and you have my best wishes for the future."

Following the jury’s narrative conclusion on Friday, Ms Morris’s father David Morris read a statement on behalf of the family outside Leicester Town Hall. He said "nothing will help" them overcome their loss but they are "satisfied" with the conclusion found by the jury.

He added: "Our beautiful daughter Becki went for a short walk with her chihuahua on a summer’s evening and never came home."

The Health and Safety Executive confirmed that an investigation into Ms Morris’s death is ongoing.