Overview
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight firefighters from Shanklin and Newport responded at about 9:30am on Wednesday, February 4, to Whiteley Bank after a man climbed a tree to avoid a cow guarding its calf.
- The calf had strayed onto a public footpath, prompting the mother to display protective behavior as the man walked his dog.
- Crews coaxed the cow and calf into an adjacent field, allowing the man to climb down safely and reunite with his dog.
- Emergency teams left the scene at around 11:00am, and no injuries were reported to the walker, his dog, or the animals.
- Following the callout, the fire service urged walkers to keep distance from cattle, keep dogs on leads, remain calm if threatened, and seek a safe place; official data show cattle kill about four to five people annually in the UK.