Elderly couple killed by ram in New Zealand are revealed
A couple believed to have been killed by a ram on their hobby farm have been named, as more details of the tragedy emerge.
An elderly couple in New Zealand who are believed to have been killed by a ram have been identified.
Alfred Helge Hansen and Gaye Carole Hansen were named by New Zealand media outlet Stuff on Friday.
The victims’ nephew Dean Burrell, who is also a police officer, confirmed that they were retired hobby farmers and their deaths were linked to an animal.
“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 and Mrs Hansen lived on the property on Anzac Valley Road in Waitākere, about 30 minutes from Auckland, for eight years and had sheep, cattle and chickens, he said.
Police located two bodies in a paddock at 7.30am on Thursday.
NZ Police confirmed a ram was in the paddock at the time and a third person had sustained minor injuries after being attacked.
It’s understood Mr Hansen went to feed the ram, but didn’t return and Mrs Hansen was killed when she went looking for him.
“Once our staff arrived at the scene they too were confronted and approached by the ram,” a statement said.
“On undertaking a risk assessment, the ram was shot and died at the scene.”
Police are investigating “to establish the full set of circumstances around what occurred in the paddock” and said post mortem examinations would be carried out on Friday.
Originally published as Elderly couple killed by ram in New Zealand are revealed
