On Friday, a 61-year-old butcher working in the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse in Hong Kong died while attempting to slaughter a pig. According to police, the pig, which had previously been stunned with an electric gun, regained consciousness and knocked the butcher to the ground, causing a fatal wound with a meat cleaver. The butcher was discovered by a colleague, who called for medical assistance, and the butcher was taken to the hospital but was later pronounced dead.
The police department stated that the cause of the butcher's death has yet to be determined. Additionally, an investigation has been launched by the city's Labour Department. They expressed condolences to the butcher's family and sadness over the tragic incident.
Butcher Slain by a Pig
The Labour Department spokesman stated that they would investigate the cause of the accident, determine the responsibility of those involved, and make recommendations for improvements. If any violations of safety laws are found, appropriate actions will be taken, according to the reports from CNN.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department oversees slaughterhouses and extended its condolences to the butcher's family. On a sunny Wednesday in September 2012, an Oregon farmer was killed by his hogs.
The 70-year-old Vietnam veteran had gone to feed the animals in the morning, but his family found only his dentures and scattered remains in the hog pen several hours later. Authorities are investigating whether the pigs deliberately killed the man or if it was an accident. According to a study from 2009, cattle kill approximately 22 Americans per year nationwide, and in 75% of those cases, the animals deliberately attack their victims. About one-third of cows that killed people have a history of aggressive behavior.
Livestock Attacking Farmers
While there is no reliable data on the number of deaths caused by swine, it is likely less than by cattle. The CDC's mortality statistics group all mammal attacks apart from those by rodents, dogs, and humans. The average number of deaths in this category is around 73 per year, including those caused by cattle.
Although there is a lack of data, there are numerous anecdotes that suggest that swine are capable of killing humans. In particular, British pigs are known to have an aggressive streak. In 2006, a 650-pound swine pinned a Welsh farmer to a tractor and bit him until the victim's wife scared the attacker off with a water hose. Also in 2006, in England's New Forest, a pig foraging caused a horse to throw its rider, then mauled the woman who fell off.
Livestock has been known to show a coordinated ability to attack. A group of cattle can encircle a perceived threat with their backsides in the center, and their heads lowered and may even paw the ground, similar to a bull facing a matador. In the Plains states, between 2003 and 2008, 5 out of 21 cattle-related fatalities involved multiple animals attacking the farmer. Pigs are also known to attack in coordination. In 2007, a sow in Norfolk, England, knocked a farmer off his feet, enabling the other pigs to bite the man.
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