A man has died and his brother seriously injured after they were trampled by cows while walking their dogs.
The men were crushed by a herd of around 30 animals while walking through a field near the village of Turleigh, Wilts., with two dogs.
A 66-year-old man suffered serious chest injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene on Monday afternoon.
His brother, believed to be in his early 70s, was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol after he suffered a collapsed lung and broken ribs.
The injured man’s wife witnessed the horror but escaped unharmed.
Remarkably, it is the THIRD cow attack in the sleepy village in the last five years.
A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “The two men were brothers and witnesses have described seeing them out walking with their two dogs.
“The wife of the injured man was also present, but she was unhurt in the incident.”
A spokeswoman for the South Western Ambulance Service said: “One male patient suffered chest injuries and was declared deceased at the scene.
“The second male’s injuries were thought to be non-life threatening but he deteriorated after complaining of pain on his left side.
“Two air ambulances and a land vehicle attended the incident.”
The incident happened shortly before 12.40pm as the trio were walking on a well-known path which leads from Turleigh to a crossing over the River Avon canal.
It is a popular cut through for walkers and ramblers leading to Avoncliff railway station and the picturesque Cross Guns pub.
The cows had been removed from the tragic scene to a nearby field.
It is the third time in recent years that someone has been attacked by cows near the village.
In 2011, Winsley engineer David Billington was left with broken neck bones after being knocked over by a cow on a footpath between Avoncliff and Winsley Cricket Club.
Just three years earlier another man suffered head injuries and a broken collarbone while walking his dog on farmland in the area.
Retired Paul Harris, a local resident who walks his dogs through the fields, said: “It’s the third time in as many years, it really is concerning.
“The last man was walking up the field in the dark and he was attacked from behind, this was last year.
“It makes me wonder if there is a rogue cow, because I believe there wasn’t even any calves in the field.
“You would think once would be enough for the farmers to maybe do something to try and protect people, but then again I do understand you can’t protect every walker and if you start putting up fences and things they could not get their vehicles through.”
Geraldine Ng (corr) who owns stables which overlook the scene, said the whole village was in shock.
“Everyone is incredibly depressed really, it is such a shock to happen so close,” she said.
“I can only imagine that maybe they did not know there were cows in there, because sometime there is not.
“It is such a beautiful and popular walk down to the pub – it’s awful what has happened.”
The next of kin have been informed and a post mortem was expected to be carried out yesterday (Tues) afternoon.