A man from North Texas was killed Monday by a bull in Ellis County.
Ellis County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call shortly after 2 p.m. in the 200 block of James Road, where a loose bull reportedly destroyed property and impeded first responders from attending to an injured man, reported NBC 5. The caller thought the bull had killed one of his sons.
The 60-year-old victim was reportedly working on his family’s land at the time. Neighbors said the father tried to protect his son from the animal, according to NBC 5.
“He had his pickup backed up right into halfway off the road and it was already too late,” said Alfred Limon, who told NBC 5 that he had known the family of the man killed by the bull for a long time. “He was tearing down the fence line to put a new one up, and he must have seen the bull out here.”
Neighbors attempted to tame the bull and help the victim, reported NBC 5. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not been released, according to Fox News.
The bull was later put down by deputies, per NBC 5.
Police are still investigating the circumstances behind the attack.
Bull attacks are unusual. Between 2003 and 2008, there have been 20 to 22 deaths related to cattle, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But this study only included the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Half of those deaths from cattle were from bulls.
Blunt-force trauma to the chest from either kicking or trampling was the most common cause of death.
