Couple believed to be killed by sheep

A New Zealand man and woman are believed to have been killed by a sheep after their bodies were found in a paddock in Waitakere, west of Auckland.

The couple were found deceased by police in the paddock of their Anzac Valley Rd address before 7.30am on Thursday.

In a statement, New Zealand Police confirmed a ram was in the paddock at the time officers were informed.

Another person at the scene suffered a minor injury after being attacked by the animal.

Police were also confronted and approached by the ram.

“On undertaking a risk assessment, the ram was shot and died at the scene,” a New Zealand Police spokesman said.

“A scene examination has been ongoing today and has now been completed.”

Police are continuing to investigate on behalf of the coroner to establish the full set of circumstances around what occurred in the paddock.

Post-mortem examinations will be carried out on Friday.

Dean Burrell, the family’s spokesman and the nephew of one of the deceased, said the retired couple were in their early 80s and had lived at the property for eight years.

“Unfortunately, they both lost their lives in a tragic accident. They are nice people and didn’t deserve this,” Mr Burrell told the NZ Herald.

“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.”

Mr Burrell said the pair were hobby farmers with some sheep, chickens and cattle.

Other neighbours spoke of the pair as a “quiet couple”, only learning of their deaths after police and emergency services swarmed the quiet street.