Rampaging bull shot on Hamilton street

Wednesday, 4 October 2017

A 900kg bull escaped from the Frankton saleyards and made its way down High Street Frankton. It was shot at the intersection of High street and Commerce Street Frankton.

GRAPHIC WARNING: Contains image some may find disturbing.

After managing to clear the saleyard fence, the 900kg beast took a stab at freedom.

But the rampaging bovine's bid was shortlived when it came pounding down to the main streets of Hamilton's Frankton at lunchtime on Wednesday.

Police, stockyard and homekills staff speak after the bull was shot.

It had jumped the 1.5-2metre fence at the sale yards on Kent St and made a kilometre dash to Commerce St.

**READ MORE:

Faith Witehria, right, was shocked to see what happened to the bull.

* Moo-ve and I'll shoot: Showdown between cops and cow

* Authorities to review bloody ending to steer escape**

Witnesses said the 900kg bull looked agitated and ready to charge at bystanders before being shot.

'The bull came charging down the street, up and down a few times,' said Keith MacMillan, who was working inside his instrument repair shop on High St when he heard the fracas.

'The bull was getting pretty agitated at times.'

Bystanders gather after a was shot after escaping from the Frankton saleyards and headed down High Street.

Police swarmed the area, blocking off vehicle access to the main hub of Commerce St.

Lunchtime wanderers were told to stay back.

'The bull was staying calm as long as people were out of sight - if he saw the people, he got agitated.

'One woman walked up close with a camera - the bull put it's head down and started pawing. It was on the point of charging her and she didn't realise.'

One officer grabbed a rifle and headed to the balcony of the Frankton TAB in case he needed to take a shot.

Animal control were called in, and there was an effort to get a couple of heifers down from the stockyards to distract the bull.

Sergeant Craig Taylor said police sought advice from local farmers and stock agents.

'It escaped from the stock yards in a fairly aggressive manner, it was pretty agitated.

'It looked like it was heading for the main street.'

The only thing holding up the beast was a grassy strip running alongside the train tracks next to the dusty gravel carpark at the end of main street.

'If it wasn't for the grass it wouldn't have been stopping.'

Given the proximity to the bustling Commerce St and demeanour of the beast, Taylor said a decision was made to shoot the bovine.

A couple of guys from Wally Smith's homekills were on hand to do it.

'In the end the guy knew what he was doing and walked up and shot him,' MacMillan said.

Taylor said the bull was killed humanely.

'They certainly got it as freestanding as possible and then went to it to make sure it was actually deceased.'

Faith Witehria had dashed from nearby St Vincent De Paul to see what was happening.

'They went and shot the poor bull. It was louder than a firecracker. Horrible.'

Seeing the beast die had left Witehria visibly upset.

'Then they walked over and one of them got a knife and slit it's throat, blood started coming down…out of it's throat and he was trying to get up.

'I kneeled down by the bull and said a prayer. I was so heartbroken seeing that.

'I did my best to comfort the bull.'

Taylor was aware the bull's death had left some members of the public upset.

'We do consider the affect on the public but the public safety overrode those considerations.'

* Comments on this article have been closed.