An 81-year-old man died on Monday, August 14, after he was attacked by his cow in Bangued, Abra.
The victim, Julio Bilgera, was about to graze his cow when the animal suddenly attacked him. The attack happened around 5 PM and resulted in Bilgera sustaining various injuries to his body.
Bilgera's wife, who was also present at the time of the attack, said that she tried to help her husband but was unable to do so.
"Idi naipakleben, nagna metten diay baka tapos pimmanaw. Pinadas ko nga tinulungan ngem diyak met mabangun ta napigsa met," the wife recalled.
Bilgera's nephews eventually came to his aid and took him to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Bilgera's son said that the cow was in heat at the time of the attack, which may have caused the animal to become aggressive. The family is now planning to sell the cow.
This is not the first time that an animal attack has resulted in a fatality in Abra. In November 2020, a 63-year-old man was killed by a carabao in the municipality of Lagayan.
Domesticated animals can sometimes become vicious and may attack their owners, even without provocation. It is important to be aware of this risk and to take precautions to avoid such attacks.
Here are some tips for avoiding animal attacks:
- Be aware of your surroundings and avoid approaching unfamiliar animals.
- Do not feed or tease animals.
- Do not approach an animal that is injured or appears to be in pain.
- If you are attacked by an animal, try to fight back and protect yourself.
- If you are injured, seek medical attention immediately.
