Cow leaves farmhand no room to moove

A farmhand was airlifted to hospital with suspected broken ribs after a cow went on the rampage at a remote Wairarapa property.

Father-of-two Quinton Miller, 28, was crushed as he helped lead dairy cattle on to a stock truck in Eketahuna.

"I turned around and the cow was coming back up behind us," said fellow farmhand Jackie McKay.

"Quinton tried to get over the top of her but she caught him ... and pinned him against the railing. He started screaming out for someone to open the side gate. I went back and started pushing her off him but she only moved once she saw the gate was open."

McKay said she could see the animal was crushing her workmate: "Quinton ... sort of half-walked, half-dragged himself out with her.

"I think he was putting a few quiet words into her ear. Then he just crumpled."

Farm owner Paul Capes said two loads of cows were being moved for grazing. The beast that escaped was fair-tempered but had made for an open door at the back of the truck.

He said it was the first time a beast had injured a worker like that on the farm.

Miller was discharged from hospital on Friday.