A DOG walker was airlifted to hospital after being charged and trampled by a herd of cows.

Lyz Warn spoke of how the ‘horrifying attack’ left her with broken ribs and needing stitches to her mouth.

Mrs Warn, a governor at Broadmayne First School, told how she was ‘butted’ to the ground and trampled over after she, her husband Peter, two friends and their two labradors were surrounded by the cattle near Beaminster.

She made it to her feet and ran away from the cows before her husband called 999 and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance arrived and airlifted her to Dorset County Hospital.

Mrs Warn, 60, said she and her friend had their labradors on short leads after parking at Broadwindsor and setting off on the Wessex Ridgeway.

“There were about 40 cows with their calves,” she said.

“We had just entered the field when they attacked us.

“They came at us and surrounded us but fortunately we had not made it far from the gate so three of us made it out.

“But I got butted and ended up on the ground and trampled on. It was absolutely terrifying.”

Mrs Warn suffered fractured ribs and a blow to her forehead which caused a gash. She also bruised her arm and required stitches in her mouth.

She added: “Although I was injured my instinct was just to run.

“I got to the other side of the gate and I realised I had quite a lot of blood to my head.”

On Thursday the Echo reported how farmers are warning they have the right to shoot dogs if they attack cattle or sheep.

But Mrs Warn, of West Knighton, wants walkers to be aware of the dangers cows pose. She said: “When I read the newspaper it made me very cross.

“There were quite obviously very dangerous cows in this field which have been proven to attack so I think the public should be aware.

“The farmers spend all their time talking about dogs but they never consider the other side of it.

“I’m the walking wounded evidence of the other side of the story.

“I think they have a duty of care to the public not to have dangerous animals on public footpaths.”

Since coming home from hospital Mrs Warn has not been outside due to her injuries and her husband had to cancel their holiday to Bruges.

He said: “ It was frightening. All hell broke loose and my first thought was the dog had got off the lead and chased the cows but it was the other way around.

“Lyz is lucky she only had the injuries she did as she could have been killed.

“Our main concern is this doesn’t happen again as it could’ve been far worse.”

A Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance spokesman confirmed they were called out to see a 60-year-old woman who had been trampled by cows.

He said: “They attended and the patient was conveyed to hospital in Dorchester with back and rib injuries.”