On August 10, a man died while hiking in a nature reserve near Spaubeek, Limburg. He was trampled by a herd of cattle.
The 67-year-old was walking his dog through a pasture area of the Vrouwenbos reserve that had only recently opened to the public, a witness tells NOS.
A fatal stampede
According to the witness, the cows only became violent when the hiker’s dog lunged at them.
They stampeded towards the man, running him over. Unfortunately, all resuscitation efforts failed.
No investigation
Since the tragic incident did not involve any criminal offences, the police will not be conducting a further investigation.
The exact circumstances of the incident remain unclear.
One theory is that the cows became protective over their calves. Another is that they simply weren’t used to visitors yet.
Whatever the reason, the incident exposed a safety hazard, and the Beek municipality has closed the reserve for the time being.
Do you think the reserve should close permanently? Share your opinion in the comments below.