A dog walker has described how she discovered her neighbour and neighbour's dog seriously injured after being trampled by a herd of cows.

Sylvia Crawley, her husband Raymond and their dog Judy had been walking near the home in Chippenham, Wiltshire, when they spotted their neighbour, Sandra Wiltshire, lying in a field, her face and hands covered in mud. Wiltshire's golden labrador, Bruce, was also caked in mud and whimpering on the floor about nine metres (30ft) away. Paramedics and police were called and Wiltshire, a retired accountant, was pronounced dead shortly after they arrived. Bruce was put down later that day.

Crawley told an inquest that she shouted: "Are you alright?" to Wiltshire and she replied: "No, not really. I have been attacked by cows."

Crawley ran to get help and then returned to Wiltshire after asking a passing walker to call 999.

"I saw Bruce lying about 30ft away from Sandra," Crawley said. "I could hear him whimpering. I realised he wouldn't stand up and was covered in mud. It was clear Sandra wasn't very well at all. I did think at that moment there was no hope."

The inquest heard that the field Wiltshire and Bruce – who was not on a lead – were walking in had no public right of way and was private land.

The jury ruled that she died as a result of an accident, a verdict recorded by David Ridley, coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon.

Wiltshire's husband, George, said she walked Bruce twice a day. "She would take him out to the fields out by the river," he said. "When she walked Bruce, if they were in the fields he would always be off the lead and would be miles behind Sandra. Bruce didn't cause any trouble."

The farmer, Charles Mifflin, said a bull, 14 calves and 16 cows used the field. Mifflin, who runs two farms, described the breed as "very quiet".

"They are friendly like most cattle. They come up to nose and make friends with you," he said. "The main problem I think was the dog. The presence of the dog would have upset them."

Mifflin said he had put up signs warning walkers that there were cows and calves on the land after being advised to do so by the Health and Safety Executive following the incident.