Stampeding cows trampled a woman in defence of their calves as she walked across farmland.
The woman, thought to be in her 50s, reportedly suffered major trauma to her upper arm and shoulder in the attack in Littleborough, Manchester.
Witnesses said the walker was ‘stamped on’ at the popular walking spot, known locally as the Bonk, and would have likely been killed if other walkers had not intercepted.
A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said crews were sent to the scene on Sunday morning (June 4).
“It was treated as a major trauma and she was taken to Royal Preston Hospital," the spokesman said.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed armed officers were sent to the scene ‘as a precaution’.
It came only days after environmental campaigner George Monbiot encouraged rural walkers to trespass on farmers land to better understand the countryside.
He defended his tweet by suggesting that when faced with landowners, he would often ‘utterly confuse them’ by explaining that they were ‘trespassing on [my] enjoyment of the countryside’.