A FARMER from North Yorkshire is lucky to be alive after being attacked by his cows.

Phil Marwood was working in the cowshed of this farm in North Grimston, near Malton, when he was attacked. His ordeal, which saw him airlifted to hospital, was televised last night.

Mr Marwood, 53, was trampled by his own herd and suffered fractures and severe bruising in the attack, which happened earlier this year.

Mr Marwood, who is a married father of two and has been working in the farming industry for over 35 years, said: “This particularly aggressive cow was at the back of the shed and, without warning, she just charged me.

“She was like an express train, knocking me down and trying to ram me with her head which set the others off. They were trampling me as I was pinned down and I could barely see daylight. Certainly thoughts do flash before you. I knew this could be it.”

Mr Marwood only managed to escape after crawling into a round feeder tray but suffered a broken collar bone, facial injuries and severe bruising down the right side of his body and legs.

Due to the level of pain and as he was suffering breathing difficulties, Mr Marwood was airlifted to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, by Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Crew from UKTV series Helicopter ER happened to be filming with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance crew at the time, and Mr Marwood’s story featured in the latest episode of the show, which aired last night (MON).

He said: “My face was a mess and I just couldn’t breathe.

“I know that if I had been pinned against a wall or if it had been hard ground the outcome could have been much worse. I was very lucky.”

York Press:

Mr Marwood following his recovery

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves five million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year.

It is funded mainly by donations, and needs to raise £12,000 to operate every day.

The charity is currently replacing its two ageing aircraft with brand new, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters, and Mr Marwood said he fully supported the emergency service in their appeals following their support.

He said: “You never think you are going to need the air ambulance but when you do they are there. They were marvellous.”

The new series is made by Ian Cundall - formerly of the York Evening Press - and Andy Joynson - formerly of Radio York - who were part of the team behind the BBC programme Helicopter Heroes, which was cancelled by the corporation last year.

The new series airs on the Reality digital channel and is made by Ian, Andy, producer Matt Richards, cameramen, an editor and two researchers operate out of two small rooms at the Ron Cooke Hub on the University of York’s new Heslington East campus.

Other stories featured in Monday night’s episode included a woman who broke her back after a riding accident and a tree surgeon who fell at work.