After we all tried to give it a bit of a push, we had to admit defeat and call in the Kent Fire Service Animal Rescue Unit: https://www.kent.fire-uk.org/news/meet-crew-specially-traine...
Just past six AM, winter, somewhere near Godmersham, we’re sat there, the conductor is saying it could be a while before anyone can come to clear the line… so, this being the days of slam-doors, out bundled a dozen besuited commuters, yours truly included, to manhandle a bloody heavy and rather messy deceased bovine out of the way, and off we went. We were only 20 minutes late into Cannon Street, which is essentially on time for that line.
I’m pretty sure it was the only time anyone on that train actually talked to one another.
Not a countryside guy: sounds kinda dangerous? If the cow panics (or gets annoyed/angry), getting kicked by a hoof would seem like a direct trip to the hospital? Or if it slips and falls on someone (is that possible?)
I did also have to deadlift a wet sheep out of a stream once and carry one from one field to another. That was a lot easier.
As with most things, it's not as dangerous as the internet would have you think. Don't sneak up it and hit it and you'll be fine.
It also partly depends on the size of the cow. Some regular jersey cow might weight 800 pounds but are still pretty broad so if they fall on you you aren't likely to be killed but of course you could be injured. However some holsteins are pushing 2,000+ pounds and could crush your bones if it fell on you. But cows aren't likely to tip over sideways in general, they have much better lateral movement of their legs than horses to stay steady. And if they start to slip or feel unsteady and can't keep themselves upright, they mostly just try to sit or drop down on their belly. It is why cow tipping doesn't work either which is kind of just a hollywood myth. If you did somehow manage to push a cow sideways enough for them to start tipping, which is already going to be incredibly difficult, they will eventually let their legs buckle beneath them and drop down to their stomach, and not fall over at full height with extended legs.