He wanted to save his grandchildren: Tourist trampled to death by elephant
South Africa - It was supposed to be a happy family outing, but instead the visit to Kruger National Park in north-eastern South Africa ended fatally for a tourist.
The National Park Authority announced in a press release that the 59-year-old man was trampled to death by an elephant last weekend.
"A tragic accident occurred today when a tourist was attacked and trampled by an elephant near the Crocodile River at Malelane Gate."
According to the local police, the grandfather is said to have tried to protect his two grandchildren, aged five and eleven, from the attack.
They are said to have been taking pictures of the animals when one of the elephants suddenly charged towards them.
The children tried to escape the agitated animal, which began to attack them with its trunk. At that moment, the grandfather intervened, but the elephant turned around and trampled him.
Man dies at the scene, eleven-year-old child injured
The animal then disappeared on the park grounds, but the man died at the scene of the tragedy. The eleven-year-old child is said to have sustained injuries to his leg.
In its statement, the national park expressed its condolences to the family and asked eyewitnesses not to publish any footage of the tragic accident on social media.
The park now wants to investigate how the incident could have happened.