A COUPLE are believed to have been killed by a sheep after their bodies were discovered in a paddock in New Zealand.
Cops were confronted by the ram after the grim discovery and were forced to shoot the rampaging beast.
A man and a woman were found dead in the paddock in Waitakere early Thursday morning.
Another person is thought to have been injured in the horror attack.
A New Zealand Police spokesman said: “On undertaking a risk assessment, the ram was shot and died at the scene.
“A scene examination has been ongoing today and has now been completed.”
The cops are yet to establish the exact details of how the incident unfolded.
The autopsy will be performed on Friday.
The couple are said to be hobby farmers in their early 80s who lived at the property for eight years and owned sheep, chickens and cattle.
The man reportedly had gone on to check on the ram and didn’t come back home.
His wife then followed him to the paddock after not hearing back from him – and sadly, never returned.
Dean Burrell, the nephew of one of the deceased, told the NZ Herald: “Unfortunately, they both lost their lives in a tragic accident. They are nice people and didn’t deserve this.
“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.”
The neighbours – who learned of the pair’s deaths after police and emergency services had arrived at the scene – described them as a “quiet couple”.
Animal behaviourist Mark Vette said that it is possible for rams to go rogue when they haven’t been socialised or have high levels of testosterone.
He told Newshub: “Most people who have farmed at some stage would have had a ram that you’ve got to be careful of.
“If you turn your back on them, they’ll have a bit of a crack at you at times.
“It would be a very rare occasion for a ram to injure someone to that level, but where you can get knocked over and hurt is usually common.”
The expert went on to explain that although dying at the horns of ram is rare, getting cornered by the animal could pose risk to people who aren’t physically able to run away.
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“Getting smashed up against a wall or something, and them hitting you hard with their head, could definitely cause some serious injuries.
“They are a really powerful animal, so being charged at three or four times would be significant,” he added.
