A HOLIDAYMAKER was in a critical condition last night after being trampled by cows as he walked along a public footpath with his wife.

Despite being seriously injured, the 46-year-old man managed to climb over a nearby wall style before collapsing.

The incident happened in a field on the outskirts of Romaldkirk, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, yesterday lunchtime.

The man, who has not been named, but is from Halifax, West Yorkshire, suffered serious injuries to his head, back, arms, chest and abdomen. His wife was unhurt.

He was airlifted to The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, where by the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) where he underwent emergency special treatment.

They were called in by land paramedics shortly after noon.

“He has been very unlucky, but also very lucky to have had the strength to get over a stile through a nearby stone wall,” said a GNAAS spokesman.

‘‘He and his wife were just walking on a public footpath when they were attacked by cows.

‘‘He’s done very well to get up and get away from them.

How he’s got out alive, I do not know. His wife somehow escaped uninjured.”

The spokesman warned walkers to take extra care when using public footpaths through fields containing cows.

“Cows can be fine one minute but can quickly turn.

We are getting into a nice time of year where people like to go walking, but they do need to be very careful around cattle.”

It is not yet known what sparked the attack and the couple, who were on holiday in the area, are not thought to have had a dog with them at the time.

In June 2010, farmer Joe Garbutt survived serious head, chest and back injuries after he was trampled by a Limousin at Old Byland, near Helmsley, North Yorkshire.

Four months later, in October 2010, two women were seriously injured by a herd of cows in separate incidents on the same day at Redmire, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

In the first incident, a couple in their early 50s, from Redmire, were knocked to the ground by cows, who trampled on the woman, causing a broken arm and fractured skull, while her husband escaped with minor cuts and bruises.

Later that day, a 48-year-old mother-of-two suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung after she was trampled by cows in the same field.

A spokeswoman for the National Farmers’ Union said: “Even though there has been one or two recent cases of people being trampled by cattle, it is still a relatively rare occurrence when you think of how many people visit the area and how many footpaths there are here.

“That is what people need to remember and not to let it put them off enjoying the countryside.

“Cows, particularly with calves, can sometimes feel threatened, especially if walkers have a dog with them.

“Wherever possible, give them a wide berth, even if it means going off the path and sticking to the edge of the field, and avoid walking through the middle of them if they are grazing.

“They can start off being curious, particularly if they are bullocks or young animals, and sometimes they can approach you.

“If they start to show undue interest, get out of the field as quickly as possible, even if it means going back on yourself.”

She advised walkers to carry a stick with them to help ward the animals off and to keep dogs on a lead at all times.

She said: “Our thoughts are with the injured gentleman and his family.”