‘Moron’ Instagrammer blamed for death of cow that survived floods

An “absolute moron” Instagrammer has been blamed for the “totally avoidable, unnecessary” death of a cow that survived being swept down the flooded Tweed River only to be shot dead by cops.

TV weatherman Luke Bradnam has blamed an ‘absolute moron’ Instagrammer for the death of a cow which survived being swept down the flooded Tweed River only to be shot dead by cops.

The brown cow was believed to have been washed kilometres down the river on Tuesday and ended up on Duranbah Beach on the Queensland-NSW border.

The lucky cow surfed into the sand after being washed out the Tweed Rivermouth but was sadly shot by police after it was spooked. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The cow spent the day evading attempts to capture it by members of the public and a farm animal rescue group but was shot dead at Tweed Heads on Tuesday night by police who said it was distressed and causing a hazard.

Bradnam said he and others were close to catching the cow earlier that day but a young woman spooked it with an ill-timed selfie.

“We were in the process of rescuing the cow, to funnel it into a horse float and then take it to safety, and this absolute moron came out with her phone and took a snapshot,” the Nine weatherman told Triple M Gold Coast.

The cow looks on. Picture Glenn Hampson

“She spooked the cow, and the cow took the bolt and ended up on the main street of Coolangatta in the early hours of this morning.

“The cattleman I was with turned to me and told me they would have no choice but to shoot it as it had been spooked and wouldn’t be able to compose itself.

It was totally avoidable, unnecessary and (it) angers me.”

The cow is believed to have come from Murwillumbah, which is in the grip of major flooding. Pictur:

Gold Coast locals were shocked to find the live cow on a beach on Monday morning, after it appeared to have been swept from its paddock, down the Tweed River and out on to Duranbah beach.

The cow calmly stood on the beach while surprised onlookers began searching for its owner.

It’s believed to have come from the Murwillumbah area, more than 30km away.

It came after a number of dead beasts were discovered by beachgoers at Mermaid Beach and Broadbeach.

Three cows were discovered among masses of dangerous debris littering Coast beaches after torrential rainfall at the weekend.

A live cow washed up on a Gold Coast beach. It comes as several cows killed during the floods were also washed up on beaches.

The cow washed up at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast

Originally published as ‘Moron’ Instagrammer blamed for death of cow that survived floods