Retired Nurse, 59, Dies After Being Trampled by Cows While Walking Her Dog

A woman has died after being trampled by a herd of cows while walking her dog on Exmoor in southwest England earlier this month.

Rebecca Jane Hitchings, 59, sustained severe injuries when the animals charged, according to the BBC. She was airlifted to a hospital in Plymouth but later succumbed to her wounds at Derriford Hospital on Thursday, Oct. 16.

A coroner identified the cause of death as blunt force trauma resulting in hemorrhagic shock. Healthline explains that hemorrhagic shock occurs when the body loses a significant amount of blood or fluids, leading it to begin shutting down.

An inquest into Hitchings’ death was held in Devon and has since been adjourned. The case is expected to be transferred to another coroner for a full hearing at a later date, per the BBC.

Hitchings, a retired nurse originally from Exeter, had been living in the nearby village of Woodcombe. Authorities have not yet disclosed what happened to her dog following the incident.