Elephant kills British man in India, police say
A British man has been killed by a
wild elephant while on safari in
southern India, according to police
there.
The tourist, who has not been named,
was killed by an elephant he had been
trying to photograph while on a jungle
tour in the state of Tamil Nadu, officers
told the BBC.
The Foreign Office said it was "aware of
the tragic death of a British national in
southern India".
It added it was "providing consular
assistance at this difficult time".
Taking photos
Tamil Nadu police said the man and two
local guides had entered a sectioned-off
area of the jungle illegally, the BBC's
Delhi correspondent Natalia Antelav
reported.
Officers said the lone animal had
charged the men and hit the British man
on the head with its trunk. The guides -
who managed to escape the elephant -
would be arrested, the police added.
Our correspondent said the area - which
lies on the border between the southern
states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu - is
popular among tourists and home to
large wildlife reserves.
Such incidents are rare, but resorts
operating in the area are often criticised
for disturbing animals and driving
tourists to parts of the jungle that are
not designated for safari tours, she said.
Meanwhile, the Times of India reported
that police had not yet inspected the
area of the Masinagudi National Park
where the man, who is thought to have
been 67-years-old, was killed.
He is believed to have arrived in India
from London.
He was treated at the local Masinagudi
Hospital before being moved to Gudalur
Government Hospital, where doctors
pronounced him dead - The Times said.