Angry young bull attacks kibbutz volunteer

Doctors said she “miraculously” suffered only light harm, though incident could easily have had tragic end.

By JUDY SIEGEL
Recovering victim (photo credit: Coutesy Kaplan Medical Center)
Recovering victim
(photo credit: Coutesy Kaplan Medical Center)
A bull turned violent and attacked an 18-year-old woman apparently after seeing her wearing a red T-shirt, sending her on Sunday to Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot.
Doctors said she “miraculously” suffered only light injuries, even though the incident could easily have had a tragic end.
The national service volunteer was working in the cowshed of a kibbutz when a young bull suddenly attacked her with his horns. Dr. Yoram Klein, head of urgent surgery, said the horns hit her on the blunt side and caused only superficial trauma to her thigh and abdomen.
Young bulls can weigh up to 200 kg.
The woman, Yael Cohen, was assigned to the cowshed, which she wanted to clean.
While she was working, a large bull broke off from others and headed in her direction, reaching her at a fence. As it tried to gore her several times, she gave it a strong kick.
“It apparently thought I was playing a game or defending myself,” she recalled. “I didn’t think I would get out alive.”
People who heard her scream rushed in and removed her, taking her to Kaplan.
As doctors found she was not badly hurt, Yael said no one should approach a bunch of bulls. Fortunately, as they were not fully grown, their horns were not yet large and sharp.
Yael said she was ready to return to the cowshed, but her mother won’t allow it. “Don’t worry. There is still plenty to do for the kibbutz,” she concluded.