Young Carlisle woman tells of terrifying cow attack

Cathrene Mieras was walking her family dog on its lead through a public field last month and, mindful of nearby grazing cattle, gave them a wide berth.

The 26-year-old, who was listening to a podcast on her headphones, only noticed the enraged 70-stone-beast a split-second before it struck her, meaning she had no chance of escape.

The environment officer said the lone cow headbutted her twice and believes her screams startled the beast who slunk away after the attack.

Horrified Cathrene checked her collie was ok, who managed to avoid being trampled himself, and then staggered away while calling her dad to come and help her.

Cathrene was rushed to hospital where she was given painkillers and was sent for an x-ray.

Cathrene Mieras with her injuries (Image: Kennedy News)

Miraculously Cathrene didn't have any broken bones, but was left with a giant bloodied and black right eye. She also suffered jaw pain so severe she couldn't eat and was forced to live on smoothies for two weeks.

But the fitness enthusiast didn't let her injury hold her back placing third in a CrossFit competition and half marathon just three weeks later.

Now Cathrene is urging others to stick to public footpaths as she did and avoid going near the animals if they have 'any doubt in their minds'.

Cathrene, from Carlisle, said: "I thought it was going to kill me.

"It's the most scared I've been in my entire life.

"I started walking into the field, and the next thing I remember is I looked up, because I was looking down at the dog saying 'good boy', and this big brown cow was just charging towards me.

"It dipped its head and headbutted me twice. The last thing I remember is this massive head hitting me.

Cathrene Mieras with her injuries after the cow attack near Carlisle (Image: Kennedy News)

"It was just that one cow on its own. I don't remember how it got off me, I think I just screamed.

"It was a monster of a black eye.

"Everyone I'd spoke to had never seen a black eye that bad, it was like a tennis ball.

"If there's any doubt in your mind, or if you have a fear of cows, just avoid them."

Keen walker Cathrene was out walking in public fields near her home in Carlisle on September 4.

Due to it being a hot day Cathrene took a different route to a footpath by a river she normally walks along, instead choosing to walk through fields.

Cathrene said: "I pretty much know every footpath in Carlisle like the back of my hand, and I've never been fazed by cows, sheep or anything.

"I know the rules of walking on the footpath, especially when there's livestock in the field, always have a dog on lead. I've never had any issues.

Cathrene Mieras from Carlisle (Image: Kennedy News)

"I went through the two fields, got to the final field and it's not very big so I could see stile to stile.

"I was aware there were cows in the field, but have never ever been fazed, so I didn't think twice because I thought 'they're on the far side of the field and I'm on the footpath'.

"A lot of people I spoke to said it's possible cows are reactive in really hot weather, it was a really hot day.

"Or someone said the cow could've been spooked by a dog before, but obviously the dog wasn't being reactive."

During the split-second attack, Cathrene was charged to the ground and narrowly avoided catastrophic injuries.

Cathrene said: "One minute I was up the next thing I was down.

"I scooped the dog up and ran back across the two fields until I was far away and that's when I got my phone out to look at my face on the camera.

"My eye was this massive swollen thing, and because I was in shock, I thought that was my eyeball popping out of my head.

"I somehow managed to hold it together until I got to the lay-by."

Cathrene was left with horrific bruising after the attack (Image: Kennedy News)

Ringing her dad and boyfriend for help after she escaped, she managed to get to a main road where she was taken to hospital.

Cathrene said: "I phoned my dad first and said 'I've been hit by a cow', but he thought I said 'car'.

"I said the same thing to my boyfriend and he also thought I said 'car', because I think you don't expect to be hit by a cow."

At Cumberland Infirmary, Cathrene was given painkillers through an IV drip, before being sent for an x-ray.

Cathrene said: "They couldn't see anything on the x-ray thankfully, it was just really really swollen so they booked me in for a follow-up appointment.

"It was two days before I could open my eyes again.

"It was more the development of the bruise in the days after that was more shocking because it just seemed to get worse.

"When my eye opened it was full of blood and you could see the visible swelling on my jaw and this big lump on my eye.

"I still have numbness now, I don't have sensation in my face."

Due to the pain in her jaw, Catherine was unable to eat solid foods and was forced to live off smoothies for weeks.

Cathrene is into fitness and it wasn't long before she was back in the gym (Image: Kennedy News)

Cathrene said: "I didn't realise how lucky I was, because I started hearing all these other horror stories about cows and people being trampled and having much worse outcomes.

"I do consider myself very lucky that I've managed to come away with, touch wood, no lasting injuries, just a wonky face."

Sporty Cathrene bravely marched back to the gym three days later and claims her fitness helped her with recovery - but has left with a fear of being near cows.

Cathrene said: "I went on a walk on my own the other day, and wanted to see if I could go near a cow, and I did another one of my usual routes.

Cathrene Mieras from Carlisle (Image: Kennedy News)

"I got to the field, and I wear a fitness watch, and my heart rate was sky high. I thought I was going to have a panic attack.

"It's going to be a long time before I can be around them, I'm lucky to be alive.

"Apart from the fear of cows, I just forced myself to get out and about again.

"It puts into perspective how amazing your own body is at adapting and overcoming."