Tributes flood in for canine walker, 88, trampled to loss of life by herd of cows within the New Forest
Colleagues of a woman who was trampled to death by cows in the New Forest have paid tribute to the 88-year-old.
Pamela Joyce Barnwell was found lying on the ground with serious injuries after being charged at by the herd of cattle while walking her pet along Roger Penny Way, near Godshill Cricket Ground, on October 21.
The animal lover was rushed to hospital but died from multiple traumatic injuries, including a pelvic haemorrhage, the following day.
Tributes been flooding in for the legal archivist, who worked at Meesons & Spurlings Solicitors for more than 20 years, following an inquest into her death.
Director of the firm Edward Holmes said Mrs Barnwell ‘was loved by both old and young throughout the company’, adding they are all ‘devastated by her loss’.
Pamela Joyce Barnwell, 88, was was found lying on the ground with serious injuries after being charged at by the herd of cattle while walking her pet along Roger Penny Way on October 21
Mrs Barnwell was rushed to hospital but died from multiple traumatic injuries including a pelvic haemorrhage the following day. Pictured: Land near Godshill Cricket Ground
Mrs Barnwell was described as being ‘loved by both old and young’. Pictured: Flowers left at the scene
Mr Holmes said: ‘Pam was diminutive in stature but huge in personality.
‘At 88 years of age she worked part time in our company for over 20 years as an archivist.
‘She enjoyed her job which she was very good at and being Pam, she had no intention to retiring.
‘She was loved by both old and young throughout the company and we are all devastated by her loss in such tragic circumstances while undertaking her daily walk in the New Forest with her beloved dog Rosie.
Pam’s cousin Mary Beesly added: ‘She would regularly walk her dog in the New Forest every day – I don’t believe she ever mentioned any danger.
‘It’s very surreal – her passing has really upset me and as the days go past it plays on my mind more and more.
‘For me as someone who is not from the area, I’m really surprised that incidents like this have not happened before in the New Forest.
‘I have tried to call around some local people and organisations and they all tell me the same thing – animals have always been free to roam in the New Forest.
‘I think something ought to be done to make sure people are kept safe while walking there.’
Mrs Barnwell and her pet were near to the Godshill cricket ground (pictured), near Fordingbridge, when the tragedy happened on October 21.
She was charged at while walking her pet along Roger Penny Way, near Godshill Cricket Ground (pictured), on October 21
The inquest also heard that Mrs Barnwell worked at local solicitors Meesons & Spurlings, despite being well past retirement age, and had a background of ischemic heart disease.
She was described as an active person and walked her dog in the New Forest, Hampshire, every day.
Neighbours have paid tribute to Mrs Barnwell who they said was a ‘lovely and hard-working lady’.
One neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, said: ‘She had a tremendous work ethic. She was a wonderful person and had a great sense of humour.
‘She loved animals and walked her dog in the New Forest every day.
‘We’d been neighbours for over 30 years, we thought the world of her. She will be greatly missed.’
The tragic incident occurred just days after a 63-year-old dog walker spoke of his own near miss, having to leap out of the way to avoid being struck by a charging cow in the same location.
Kevin Parker said a cow charged out of the bushes at him without warning, leading him to slipping on wet grass and falling over.
Despite Mr Parker waving of his arms and shouting at the cow, it jumped and landed inches from where he was, as he narrowly managed to roll out of the way.
The inquest was adjourned until September next year, with Hampshire area coroner Nicholas Walker ordering statements from the New Forest District Council on the monitoring of wild stock and a statement from the owner of the cows.
