A 75 year old man was killed after a cow escaped from a livestock market in Wales.
Father-of-two Huw Evans was knocked down and trampled by a cow that was being auctioned at a livestock market run by J.J. Morris Limited on 19 November 2022.
The cow escaped as it was being unloaded into a pen at the market in Whitland, heading towards Whitland, Carmarthenshire. Mr. Evans was crossing a junction at North Road and West Street when he was attacked by the cow. He suffered multiple injuries and was flown to the University Hospital of Wales but sadly died on the 25 November, six days later. A worker was also injured in a failed attempt to capture the cow. The cow was eventually captured and put down by Dyfed-Powys Police.
Investigations from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that J.J. Morris Limited, which has operated Whitland Livestock Market for over 30 years, did not have basic control measures to prevent cattle from escaping. The company's risk assessment also mentioned control measures that were not in place at the market, making it ineffective.
J.J. Morris Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the company was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £5,047.55 in costs at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on 20 June 2024.
In his victim personal statement, Mr Evans' son, Dafydd said:"Dad was my best friend and I miss him terribly, he was taken from us too soon. Losing Dad has had a tremendous effect on both myself and my brother. Because of this incident Dad's grandsons will never fully know him personally and he will not see them grow up."
HSE inspector Rhys Hughes said: "This tragic incident was foreseeable and preventable. The risk posed by cattle escaping from the livestock mart should have been identified, and effective control measures implemented. The case highlights the importance of following industry guidance, which is readily accessible and outlines the requirements to safely manage cattle."
