Elephants trample a Spanish tourist to death in South Africa

A 43-year-old man has died after being trampled by an elephant at Pilanesberg National Park

July 11, 2024

A Spanish tourist has been trampled to death by an elephant at a national park in South Africa, local authorities have shared.

The 43-year-old man was killed after an adult elephant charged at him as he allegedly left his vehicle to take photos of a breeding herd at Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa on Sunday, July 7, The North West Parks and Tourism Board confirmed the incident, Newzroom Afrika, NBC News and The Guardian reported.

Authorities from the Spanish government identified the victim as Carlos Luna from Zaragoza, Spain, per Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia. His body is being retrieved to be brought back to Spain, according to the outlet.

Luna had been traveling with his fiancée and two other women when he left their vehicle to snap the photo, NBC News reported. An elephant then separated from its group and attacked him.

The other passengers were left unharmed, according to the outlet, but Luna was rushed to hospital. He later died there from his injuries.

“Despite warnings from his fellow passengers, and occupants from two other vehicles that were at the sighting, he unfortunately did not heed their warnings,” the North West Parks and Tourism Board said in a statement obtained by The Guardian.

“An adult elephant cow charged at the man, who then ran from the elephant. He was unfortunately not able to escape or evade the elephant, which was now joined by the whole herd, and was caught and trampled to death.”

The board added that tourists “are forever educated on the importance of remaining in the safety of the vehicle” as the animals are “unpredictable” and that tourists must “respect distance between vehicles and animals and allow them first right of passage, and to only alight in specially designated areas.”

Pieter Nel, the board’s chief conservation officer told Newsroom Afrika following the attack: “We’re not going to act against the elephants … there was a breeding group, they acted in defense of their family.”

“… After the attack, they simply just turned around and disappeared into the world. So there’s no action planned against that. I think it was a pure natural instinct for them to respond so we don’t plan anything further.”

A police investigation has opened following the incident.