Overview

• The couple from Vienna were walking their dog near the Austria Hut in Ramsau am Dachstein in Styria when the herd charged, according to police.
• Nine cows, including three calves, were involved in the attack as nearby hikers and hut staff rendered first aid before alerting emergency services.
• The victims were flown to a hospital in Salzburg, where the man died before emergency surgery and the 82-year-old woman was reported in stable condition.
• Witnesses said the cows were likely startled by the dog, a factor authorities have not formally determined.
• Fatal cattle encounters are uncommon in Austria, and prior incidents led to a hiker code of conduct advising distance from herds and keeping dogs on a short lead or releasing them if cows attack.