Melton Cattle Market worker taken to hospital after being knocked flying by steer and hitting his head

The Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance was called to the cattle market, landing at the old abattoir site, after experienced cattle drover David Johnson was injured in the freak accident.

Mr Johnson, of Great Dalby, was taken to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre by land ambulance.

Initial speculation that Mr Johnson had been trampled by the Limousin and that the beast had ‘turned on him’ was dismissed by market manager Tim Webster.

He said: “David has worked for us for years and is a very experienced cattle drover. His job is to bring cattle up to the ring.

“The steer knocked him flying and he banged his head, it didn’t trample him or turn on him. It was just a freak accident.

“I spoke to the paramedics before they left with David and they said his vital signs were pretty good and they were happy with the way he was responding. He was conscious and just starting to come around. We all wish him a full and speedy recovery.”

Mr Webster added: “All of the staff acted very quickly and I was very pleased with how everyone conducted themselves. Everyone was calm, not panicking, and there was nothing more we could have done.”

Melton Cattle Market accounts clerks Marie Steele and Heather Frost, both first-aiders, quickly came to Mr Johnson’s aid.

Marie said: “There was a lot of blood loss. I put a dressing on the back of his head and we covered him up to keep him warm. We put him in the recovery position and tried to keep his head still.

“He was yawning and trying to go to sleep but we kept him talking. Heather rang the ambulance and was on the phone talking to the paramedics.

“He kept wanting to get up and the oxygen he was given brought him around quite well.”

An East Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We were called at 12.28pm to Melton Cattle Market and reports of a man who had been hit by a cow.

“Our crews arrived on scene supported by the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance and the patient was taken by land to the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC). We don’t have any detail of his injuries.”

The air ambulance landed at the old abattoir site at around 1.10pm and left the scene just before 2pm.

The Melton Times was told that Mr Johnson was hoping to be out of hospital and back home today (Wednesday, March 23).