Harrowing video shows elephant charging truck during African safari, killing American tourist
Shocking video captured the moment a 5-ton bull elephant in Zambia charged at a safari vehicle — flipping it over several times and killing an 80-year-old American woman during an expedition.
The unidentified woman was among six tourists with the group Wilderness Zambia who were out on a photography tour Saturday when they came under attack by the crazed beast, the Telegraph reported.
“At around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning the six guests were on the game drive when the vehicle was unexpectedly charged by the bull elephant,” Wilderness Zambia CEO Keith Vincent said in a statement.
Distressing footage captured by a passenger shows the elephant barreling toward the vehicle as it cruises along a bush-lined road before suddenly stopping when its path was blocked.
The passenger continues to record as the animal lunges at the vehicle and flips it over.
The elderly woman later died of her injuries while another woman remains hospitalized.
The other four guests were treated for minor injuries after the violent attack.
“Our guides are all extremely well-trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough,” Vincent said.
Kafue National Park’s management sent a helicopter to the scene to evacuate the victims.
“This is a tragic event and we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died. We are also, naturally, supporting those guests and the guide involved in this distressing incident,” Vincent added.
The group was reportedly staying at the luxurious Lufupa Camp in the Kafue National Park, the largest game reserve in Africa.
African Parks, which manages the park, also controls 22 other wildlife sanctuaries in Africa.
The tour group was making arrangements to return the woman’s body to the US, the Nigerian Bulletin reported.
