Woman who 'went for a short walk with her dog on a summer’s evening' killed by cow

A woman walking her dog was tragically trampled to death by a cow after she strayed from a footpath across a field, an inquest jury concluded. Following the hearing, Becki Morris' father, David, described his daughter as "beautiful" and told how she had gone for a "short walk with her chihuahua on a summer’s evening and never came home".

The 29-year-old had been out with her pet, Zero, in Littlethorpe, Leicestershire, on the evening of July 9 2022, when the fatal incident occurred. Leicester Coroner’s Court heard that Ms Morris had "deviated for reasons unknown" from the public footpath she used to enter the field before encountering the cow, "tragically causing injuries leading to her death".

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During the inquest, it emerged that Ms Morris had sent a photo of the cattle to her mother while on the walk with Zero. After she stopped replying to text messages, her worried parents searched the field from the photo and discovered her injured.

Despite paramedics' efforts at the scene, Ms Morris suffered a cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 11.21pm. Dr Michael Biggs, the forensic pathologist who conducted the post-mortem examination, testified on Monday that Ms Morris had sustained injuries including blunt force trauma and abrasions "consistent with hoof marks from a trampling incident".

He noted that she had "extensive damage to the liver" which resulted in "severe internal bleeding" and ultimately led to her death.

During the inquest into a tragic incident at Warwick Bridge Farm, it emerged that a public footpath through the field was marked by "yellow posts". Guy Hutton, son of the farm owner, testified to the jury, recounting that upon leaving the farm and finding Ms Morris wounded, she was away from the path.

According to his account, there were about 17 or 18 cows and one calf present, none of which he had seen stampede before. He described them as "easy-going" and behaving in a "docile manner".

At the conclusion of the inquest, Ms Thistlethwaite offered heartfelt words to the bereaved family: "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 verdict, Ms Morris' father, David Morris, delivered a poignant statement outside Leicester Town Hall, and said “nothing will help” them overcome their loss but they are “satisfied” with the conclusion found by the jury.

He said: “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 it is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding Ms Morris’s death.