85-Year-Old Hiker Killed by Cow Herd in Austrian Alps

An 85-year-old man was killed after a herd of cows trampled him and his 82-year-old wife while walking their dog in the Austrian Alps, authorities reported Monday.

The couple, both retirees from Vienna, were hiking toward a mountain hut in Ramsau am Dachstein, Styria province, on Sunday afternoon when the incident occurred. A herd of nine cows, including three calves, charged at the couple just below the so-called Austria hut, severely injuring them, according to local police.

Hikers in the area and staff at the nearby refuge hut witnessed the attack, provided first aid, and alerted emergency services. The couple was transported to a hospital in Salzburg, but the man died from his injuries before he could undergo emergency surgery.

Local prosecutors have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the attack, with an autopsy pending.

Fatal cow attacks are rare in Austria, a country known for its mountainous terrain and freely grazing cow herds. In 2024, a similar incident occurred in the Salzburg region when a woman was killed by a charging herd while hiking with her dogs.

Following a deadly cow attack a decade ago, the Austrian government issued a "code of conduct" for hikers. Guidelines recommend keeping a safe distance from cows and walking dogs on a short lead, but releasing them in the event of an attack.