A FARMER died after she was knocked over by a cow and hit her head on a concrete floor, a court heard.

Patricia Ann Ganderton, of The Oakes Farm, Shoulton Lane, Hallow, near Worcester, suffered a fatal head injury in the accident.

Nicholas Ganderton said the cow charged at his 64-year-old mum when she opened a gate to the cattle yard.

Tributes have been paid to the 'cheerful and popular' farmer, following an inquest into her death today.

In a statement read out at the inquest, Mr Ganderton said: "She landed on her back, hitting her head on the concrete floor.

"As the cow charged mum I was walking around the corner but I wasn't near enough to stop it happening."

The accident happened just after 6pm on June 24.

Mr Ganderton shouted for help and could see that his mum, known as Annie, was unconscious on the ground.

He then spoke to the ambulance service over the phone and was told to put his mother in the recovery position.

A first responder reached the farm around 10 minutes later and started to treat Mrs Ganderton, before a land ambulance and air ambulance arrived.

Paramedics took the mother to Worcestershire Royal Hospital and then on to University Hospital Coventry, where she died on July 6.

Speaking at the inquest, Mrs Ganderton's husband, Rae, said: "You said we didn't necessarily need to be here today but we made sure we followed Annie through all the stages, right up to the end.

"We stayed with her till the very end, the people in the hospital said you don't have to stay... but we said we are going nowhere."

In response, Coroner Geraint Williams said: "For me it's a mark of respect, it's your last duty to the woman that you love."

The coroner added that he also came from a farming family.

He said: "I know the difficulties and I know how this happens, please don't think this is paper exercise for me. It's not.

"Mrs Ganderton was looking after her cattle as she had done for many years. She didn't intend for what happened to happen."

Les Goldsmith, who farms in Hallow, said Mrs Ganderton was a popular farmer who was a regular at Worcester Livestock Market.

He said: “I’d always stop to say hello, she was always bright and cheerful and she would do anything for anyone, if you needed a bit of help.

“She had been farming a long time, it was all she ever wanted to do and it really is a sad loss to the community.”

Paul Dunne, National Farmers’ Union Worcestershire chairman, from Peopleton, added: “She was a really bubbly character and very personable, I knew her and her husband from the livestock market.

“Worcestershire farmers are working hard, feeding the nation with quality produce and as experienced stockmen and women, we are well aware of our responsibilities and the potential risks of working with large animals.

“I was really saddened to hear this news, it came as quite a shock and we send our heartfelt condolences.”

Mrs Ganderton handled livestock for over 40 years and came from a family of farmers, the court heard.

The mother had been looking after a new-born calf just before her death, according to her family.

She was born on October 20, 1953.

Worcestershire Coroner's Court, in Stourport, ruled that the death was accidental and caused by a traumatic brain injury.