- A 71-year-old farmer in Scotland died after being attacked by a cow that had recently given birth.
- The farmer, Derek Roan, was trying to move the cow and her calf back to the main herd when he was attacked.
- Sheriff Joanna McDonald concluded that there were no reasonable precautions that could have avoided Mr Roan’s death.
A fatal accident inquiry has concluded that a 71-year-old farmer in Scotland died after being attacked by a cow that had recently given birth.
Derek Roan died after being attacked by a cow that had recently given birth. The accident occurred at Barnbarroch Farm near Dalbeattie on June 19, 2022.
Mr Roan was trying to move the cow and her calf back to the main herd when he was attacked. The cow reportedly charged at him and knocked him to the ground. He suffered severe chest trauma and died at the scene.
Sheriff Joanna McDonald concluded that there were no reasonable precautions that could have avoided Mr Roan’s death. She also found that there were no defects in the working systems at the farm.
Mr. Roan was an experienced stockman and the risks associated with cattle-handing “would have been well known to him.” He had lived and worked at Barnbarroch his entire life and ran it in partnership with his wife and two sons.
His family released a statement saying that they were “totally devastated” by his death. They said that it would take some time for them to come to terms with his loss.
