Tragedy struck early Thursday morning, April 18, when Alfred Helge Hansen and Gaye Carole Hansen, both in their early eighties, were found dead at their rural property west of Auckland, New Zealand, on Anzac Valley Road in Waitakere. A ram attack appears to be the cause of their deaths.
The couple was discovered by their son, who visited their property after a period of not being able to contact them. Upon his arrival, he was met with an aggressive ram. Police officers, feeling threatened by the animal’s behavior, killed it.
Based on initial police reports, it appears that Mr. Hansen went to take care of the ram but never came back. Mrs. Hansen, worried about her husband’s extended absence, went out to find him and also didn’t return to their residence.
Dean Burrell, the family’s spokesperson and the couple’s nephew, shared his disbelief and grief with the media, stating, “They’re good people. They’re over 80. They don’t deserve this,”. He added, “I feel like I was dreaming it actually… being told what had happened and I just didn’t believe it.”
The Hansens were highly respected in their community. A neighbor described them to the NZ Herald as a “very quiet couple” and praised Mr. Hansen’s lifelong dedication to farming. “He was a very good stockman,” the neighbor said.
Police are currently treating the couple’s deaths as unexplained, carrying out a comprehensive investigation alongside the coroner. A postmortem examination is planned to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding their deaths. On Thursday, there was a significant police presence and St John medics at the property.
Mark Vette, an animal behavior expert, explained to Newshub the potential danger of rams, “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,”. While such attacks are unusual, the unpredictability of rams can result in severe injuries or even death.
This incident has shaken the local community, highlighting the hazards associated with livestock handling. “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,” Vette added. The incident underscores the potential danger of being cornered by a ram, particularly for individuals unable to quickly escape.
As the police investigation progresses, the shocking loss of the Hansens serves as a stark reminder of the need for caution when dealing with farm animals, even for experienced individuals like Mr. Hansen. The local farming community, along with the Hansen family and friends, is left to mourn the sudden and unforeseen loss.
