Support to be offered to family of man killed by bull

Federated Farmers says it will offer whatever support is required to the family of a man killed by a bull in North Canterbury.

The death happened on a farm in Oxford yesterday.

President of Federated Farmers North Canterbury Cameron Henderson, who farms in Oxford, says he will be reaching out to the family.

"Given experience with other families and farm tragedies, we will be giving them some space to begin with," he said.

He has few details of the incident, but hopes to get an idea soon of what they might need in terms of support.

"That might be emotionally, or in a farming sense, helping to keep things running," said Mr Henderson.

He said locals are shocked at what's happened.

"Oxford is a tight rural community, with a diverse group of people, so this is being widely felt," he said.

Mr Henderson said the tragedy was unsual.

"It is incredibly rare to have a death by cattlebeast in New Zealand," he said.

WorkSafe has been notified of the incident and is looking at whether to investigate.

Newshub.