Scottish woman is sharing her harrowing survival story after she was crushed and trampled by a herd of cattle while hiking with her dog in the Scottish Highlands.
According to PEOPLE, Mary-Jane Parker, 61, was walking with her dog, Lola, near Newtonmore when the herd suddenly approached her.Parker recalled that the cows quickly surrounded her, and one animal lowered its head and began thumping the ground, a known warning sign before an attack.
‘I Thought I Was Done For’
Parker said she immediately feared for her life as the situation escalated. During the chaos, Lola managed to loosen her collar and escape from the herd.
“All I remember after that was being thrown from the ground,” Parker said.
“I thought I was done for out there. I thought that was where it would all end for me.”
She later revealed that one cow began licking her bleeding wounds while another continued pawing at her foot as she lay injured.
Victim Played Dead and Used Tracking Device to Call for Help
After being knocked to the ground, Parker pretended to play dead, hoping the animals would lose interest. She also managed to use a Garmin tracking device from her backpack to call for emergency assistance.
Despite calling for help, Parker said the cows did not immediately leave the area, forcing her to remain completely still. She sustained injuries to her left calf muscle during the attack.
Woman Airlifted to Hospital, Dog Found Safe
Emergency responders eventually arrived, and Parker was airlifted to a local hospital for treatment. Afterward, she was relieved to learn from other hikers that Lola was safe and had avoided injury.
The incident has renewed conversations around cattle safety while hiking, especially during calving season when cows can become highly protective and aggressive.