teacher-killed-by-cows-walking-his-dogs

Teacher Killed by Cows While Walking His Dogs

A teacher has been killed by an aggressive herd of cows after walking his dogs Monday evening. The teacher was known as the “heart and soul” of his school.

Richmond School in North Yorkshire is suffering a tremendous loss this week. David Clark, a headteacher for the English school, has met a terribly tragic and unexpected end – in a way most find unimaginable.

Local police say they were first made privy to reports of a man sustaining injuries from cows in a field close to Richmond. The incidents began around 7.30pm. Reportedly, the cows went on the attack and did not let up until after police were on the scene. By the time they were, however – it was too late.

“Officers from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be working to support those affected by his death today. The Health and Safety Executive has been informed, and inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances.”

North Yorkshire Police

Teacher killed by cows a “brilliant school leader”

The school continues to pay tribute to Clark. The “brilliant school leader” was a teacher for 23 years at the institution. In a heartbreaking statement, the school describes Clark with the highest of marks:

“He was an enormous character, a brilliant school leader and simply a lovely man who [would enrich] the life of everyone he came into contact with, just by being himself and doing what he did every day.”

Richmond School

Clark’s colleagues and friends are also paying tribute. Close peer and fellow headteacher Jenna Potter has the following to say on Clark’s untimely passing:

“Dave was always the person we [came] to deal with difficult issues and he was a master at that. He never let students get away with being anything other than their very best, never giving up on them, even when at times it felt as though they wanted to give up on themselves. All of this, Dave did with a smile and a level of kindness and care that is seldom seen.

Outside school, Dave was a keen sportsman. He had grown to love the Dales and would often be seen cycling, walking and spending time on the moor during the beating season. Our students and their parents have been lucky to have known and been helped by him. We have been privileged as a staff to have worked with him and will continue working in the same way in his memory.”

“Above all, Dave was a family man. Our thoughts are with Dave’s wife, his children and wider family at this difficult time.”

Jenna Potter

David Clark leaves behind a wife and children.

Cows cause more deaths than sharks per year

In both the U.S. and U.K., the number of deaths from cows is much higher than most expect. According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE), cows have been responsible for more human deaths than any other animal between 2000 and the present. Between 2000 and 2015, 74 fatalities were by cows in Clark’s native U.K.

According to U.S. wildlife officials, however, cows kill an average of 20 people per year. That’s far past the average of 1 shark or bear death per year. On average, animals are responsible for around 200 deaths in the U.S. per year.

[H/T Newsweek]