A sheep is believed to be responsible for the deaths of an elderly New Zealand couple whose bodies were found in a paddock.
The NZ Herald reports a couple, both in their early 80s, were found dead at their rural Waitakere property, west of Auckland, early on Thursday morning by their son.
He had gone to check on the pair after failing to hear from them.
Police suspect a ram was behind the deaths, with the Herald reporting officers had located and killed the animal on the couple’s hobby farm.
‘Two people have been located deceased in a paddock at the Anzac Valley Rd property,’ a police spokesman said.
The NZ Herald reports a couple, both in their early 80s, were found dead at their rural Waitakere property, west of Auckland, early on Thursday morning by their son
‘At this stage the circumstances of the death are unexplained. We are liaising with family at the scene.’
It’s understood the man had gone to check on the ram but never returned. His wife then went to check on her husband but never made it back to the house.
Dean Burrell, the nephew of one of the dead and family spokesman, told news outlet Stuff the couple had ‘both lost their lives in a tragic accident’.
‘They’re good people. They’re over 80. They don’t deserve this,’ he said.
‘Everyone is in shock as to what’s happened. They are very upset.’
Mr Burrell said the couple had not communicated with their family for a couple of days.
Police are seen at the scene of a couple who were reportedly killed by a ram on their property
‘Everyone’s in shock as to what’s happened. They’re very upset. I feel like I was dreaming it actually, it was a bit of shock, being told what had happened and I just didn’t believe it.’
Burrell’s father had phoned him to tell him the news.
‘So I’ve come down here to support my cousins and the wider family.’
St John medics attended the property with two ambulances early on Thursday, with a large police presence throughout the day.
A neighbour who has known the elderly couple for many years and who asked not to be named described them as a ‘very quiet couple,’ the NZ Herald reports.
The neighbour said the man who lived at the property had been farming all his life.
‘He was a very good stockman,’ the neighbour said.
St John medics attended the property with two ambulances early on Thursday, with a large police presence throughout the day
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