Farmer, 87, suffered 'unsurvivable' injuries after being struck by cow

An 87-year-old farmer died after suffering "unsurvivable" injuries when he was struck by a cow in Aberdeenshire, a sheriff has said.

David Ewan was taken to hospital after the incident at Ferniebrae Farm, Stonehaven, in June last year but could not be saved.

A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) heard cattle was being moved onto a lorry to be transported for slaughter when one of the cows turned and ran towards him.

In his written determination, Sheriff Ian Wallace said the experienced farmer could have waited for assistance to carry out the task.

The accident happened on the afternoon of 16 June last year.

The farmer's health was said to have deteriorated and his mobility had decreased,

The court heard this placed him at greater risk of injury when handling cattle.

On the day of the incident a lorry was there to collect three cattle to take them to a slaughterhouse at Portlethen.

The sheriff said the pass to the lorry was too wide, allowing cattle to turn and change direction, and it did not provide a ready means of escape if cattle did become out of control.

The first two cattle went onto the lorry without incident, but the third spun round and went back down the pass, and hit Ewan.

After the accident, he was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where he died.

It was assessed he had suffered an unsurvivable brain injury.

The sheriff said Ewan grew up on a farm and had been a farmer all his working life.

He said the father-of-four was described as not being a man who would ask for help, but he was grateful for all the help that he did receive.

"For the previous 20 years Mr Ewan had been saying that he would retire the next year," the sheriff wrote.

"He never followed through on his stated plans to retire, no doubt in part because farming was such a big part of his life.

"It was not just his job but his hobby. These characteristics are not uncommon in Scottish farmers. They are perhaps the very characteristics that can sustain a person through a long life working a farm."

The sheriff said family members attended every hearing of the inquiry, which spoke to the "love and affection they held, and still hold, for Mr Ewan", and expressed his condolences.

He added: "Ferniebrae Farm no longer houses any cattle. The family do not intend keeping the farm running, and are planning to sell it.

"In these circumstances, there are no recommendations to be made."