Mary-Jane's Story

Experienced hillwalker Mary-Jane Parker (61) planned to bag three Munros near Newtonmore when she set out early that morning in August.

But within minutes she was in a world of pain, terror and despair as she was crushed, dragged, tossed and trampled by a herd of cattle on the approach footpath to her first ascent.

“I’m always very wary and respectful of cows on open ground,” she explained, “and usually stay well clear of them. Unfortunately, this gang was hidden behind a bank of high ground and I didn’t see them until I skirted the mound and found myself just feet away from them.”

Within seconds, the cattle surrounded Mary-Jane and started to close in on her.

“One of them put its head down and started thumping the ground. I was terrified. I couldn’t escape.

“My little dog Lola panicked, broke out of her collar and bolted just as the cows attacked.

“I was crushed between two of the cows, swept off my feet and carried between them as they charged off along the track. I could feel my body being crushed between these animals but couldn’t stop them or get my feet on the ground.

“I was thrown to the ground but my rucksack strap was round one of the cows legs and it dragged me along the ground. Next thing I knew I was tossed up in the air, then crashed back to earth.”

Mary-Jane’s horrific attack lasted just a few minutes but her injuries were extensive.

“I saw a massive wound on my left leg – my calf was ripped open from knee to ankle and the muscle was hanging out. The cows didn’t move off – I was terrified they would trample me or attack me again. I decided to play dead – keep as still as I could and hope they moved away without hurting me further.

“I could feel the breath of one in my hair as it munched the grass at my head. Another was licking the blood on my wound. A third kept kicking my boot.

“I could see my phone lying about 8m away but couldn’t reach it. It was torture. At any moment one could kill me – even by accident – the danger was far from over.”

Mary-Jane lay for 45 minutes playing possum while her tormentors mulled around menacingly.

“I put my right leg over the open wound to try and protect it and focussed on trying to stay alive. I assumed they had killed Lola but I couldn’t let my head be filled with awful thoughts.”

Luckily, Mary-Jane had been able to activate her Gamin emergency alert and tracking device on her rucksack beside her head, triggering the SOS alert.

“Keep holding on, don’t go to sleep, don’t lose consciousness. Keep breathing, I said over and over to myself. Help will come.”

The first voices Mary-Jane heard were some fellow hillwalkers who chased off the cattle and rushed to her aid, reassuring her that her little dog was safe and well.

Minutes later, police and then paramedics arrived and transported Mary-Jane off the hill to a waiting ambulance. “A doctor and advanced nurse practitioner then arrived and judged that my injuries were so extensive that a road ambulance wouldn’t make it to hospital in time. The pain was crippling – I’ve never experienced anything like it.

“I was aware I was surrounded by wonderful people who were all intent on saving my life – but it might not be enough.”

Medics knew an air ambulance was Mary-Jane’s best hope of survival and prompt surgical intervention and Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) was scrambled to help beat the race against time.

“I heard SCAA’s helicopter coming in and landing beside the ambulance. What a relief. They would get me to hospital quickly. I started to feel hope again. Whatever happened to my leg, I was going to live. SCAA was going to make sure I would be OK.

“A lovely SCAA paramedic called Claire kept a comforting hand on my arm at all times. I felt so safe – so reassured. SCAA was the best blend ever of professionalism, caring and kindness all wrapped into one.

“I was in a huge amount of pain. I felt my leg was going to explode – it was agony. They gave me a painkilling drug that sent me reeling but I knew Claire was with me at all times and although I was going through nightmares I held on to that knowledge. I was safe. It would be alright.”

Landing at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary just 30 minutes later, Mary-Jane was rushed through X-ray and into theatre.

She had suffered 10 broken ribs, a broken sternum, a broken right hand, pooling of blood in the chest wall, bruised lungs, major leg trauma and multiple bruises to the head, face and body.

Ten days later, following various surgeries – including skin grafts – Mary-Jane was allowed to return home to Peebles where her recovery continues.

“It’s a miracle I made it out alive. I’m so grateful every day when I wake up and know I am still alive. What a gift it is. To be given that second chance.

“And it was SCAA that gave me that chance. This charity is why I am here today. I’m able to be with my family this Christmas because of SCAA.

“They were there on the worst day of my life. A day I thought might be my last. They weren’t just there – they were really there. Human beings to the core of what it means to be a human being. They weren’t just carrying out a function they were so caring and that makes such a difference.

“I thought I was done for out there on that track. I thought that was where it would all end for me. SCAA turned that on its head and got me where I needed to be – in time – to keep fighting and survive. I owe them everything.”