South African elephant tramples Spanish tourist to death in Pilanesberg National Park

A Spanish tourist was trampled to death by elephants after getting out of his car to take photos of the herd in a game reserve in South Africa.

The unnamed 43-year-old man was visiting Pilanesberg National Park with his fiancée and two other people on Sunday morning when the attack occurred, police said.

The group was driving around in their own vehicle before spotting three elephants with three calves, officials said.

When the man got out of the car and approached the herd, the lead cow became “agitated” and attacked him, said Pieter Nel, a spokesman for the local tourism association.

Since the man could not escape, he was trampled by the rest of the herd.

The group of people he visited the park with – all residents of Johannesburg – were unharmed, police say.

The police say that investigations are currently underway.

South Africa’s national parks attract more than a million visitors every year.

Officials say it is extremely important that visitors follow safety precautions.

“Tourists are constantly reminded of the importance of staying in their vehicles when visiting the park, maintaining adequate distance between the animals and their vehicles, allowing the animals to roam freely and only exiting the vehicles in designated, safe areas,” Thami Matshego, managing director of the North West Parks and Tourism Board, told local news channel Netwerk24.

It is “normal behaviour” for wild elephants to defend their young, said Mr Nel of the same tourism organisation.

“Despite the warnings of his fellow passengers and occupants of two other vehicles who were at the scene of the accident, he (the deceased) unfortunately did not heed their warnings,” he added.

Elephant attacks are not uncommon.