Kya Buller
A 29-year-old woman was trampled to death by cows sent her mother a heartbreaking photo shortly before she died.
Rebekah Morris, who was known to friends and family as Becki, was walking her chihuahua, Zero, in Littlethorpe, Leicestershire, in July 2022 when the horrifying incident occurred.
The inquest into Morris' death began yesterday (14 October).
It heard that when Morris stopped replying to text messages, her parents went to search for her in the field she photographed, and eventually found her injured.
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Morris tragically went into cardiac arrest and despite the best efforts of paramedics was pronounced dead at the scene at 11.21pm.
Dr Michael Biggs, the forensic psychologist who conducted the post-mortem examination of Morris, stated to the jury that the injuries were 'consistent with hoof marks from a trampling incident.'
Morris sustained blunt force traumatic injuries and abrasions to her upper chest, as well as her left shoulder.
Dr Biggs said: "There was extensive damage to the liver, which led to severe internal bleeding. That's the main reason why Becki died."
He added that the amount of injuries sustained was 'not so large' as to suggest the entire herd of cows were responsible, rather theorising her death was a 'relatively brief incident involving one cow'.
Leicester Crown Court heard how Morris sent her mother a text with the word 'Cowz' alongside a photograph of the cattle herd just before 9pm on the day of her death.
Dr Biggs added his belief that there was not 'enough of a suspicion' to conduct a forensic post-mortem examination in order to 'rule out' the involvement of another person.
The Daily Mail reports that a farmer and other locals rushed to give Morris CPR before emergency services arrived.
A paramedic who was on the scene told the court it was initially suspected she could have been attacked or strangled.
Dr Biggs stated: "There were no other injuries to suggest the involvement of another person.
"All injuries were consistent with a livestock trampling incident."
He continued: "The type and location of the injuries in this case, for me, were indicative of something else, such as a large, heavy creature - such as a cow."
The inquest is set to last for a further five days.
Dr Biggs noted that traces of alcohol and medications were found in Morris' system, though 'not a dangerous combination.'